GANGTOK,: The Sikkim University Students’ Association (SUSA) has maintained
that the untimely death of Sikkim University student Neirav Giri was due to “sheer
negligence of cold-blooded administration”.
The first
semester student had passed away last week at the Sikkim University campus in
Yangang, Namchi district due to a medical emergency.
“Last weekend,
a student of Central University lost his precious life due to sheer negligence
of cold-blooded administration. The authoritarian attitude of the
administration and pantomime of hoax concern post demise portrays nothing but
mere attempt to sweep the incidence under carpet, which shows the adamant babus
and masters are heartless who have no regard for precious human life,” said the
SUSA in a press statement on Thursday.
The SUSA said
the student’s death, while a great loss to his family and student fraternity,
asks bigger questions on the administration’s failure to address the long list
of unresolved issues of the university.
“Will the
hollow promises and un-synchronised act of concern by authoritarian
administration post demise resolve everyday challenge…The question remains?
Non-involvement of democratically-elected students associations and turning
deaf to the voice of students’ concern, be it in affairs of the university or
shifting, rather forceful shifting of departments in under-construction site in
Yangang with added threats of students questioning and demanding the basic
rights and false propagandas in relation to Yangang campus in hand with gross
violation of UGC guidelines, stiff-neck attitude high handedness, and practice
of oppression from the administration has all added to the loss of a precious
life,” said the SUSA.
Demanding
justice, the SUSA said it will not entertain any false assurances from the
administration and questions the legitimacy of the verbal assurances as it was
in the case of 14 legitimate and basic demands placed for the students and by
the students in the past was quashed.
“SUSA demands
inclusion of student representative in the fact-finding committee and questions
the role of director, Yangang campus and his basic duties, along with the
posting of doctors, provost and warden and their statement in relation to the
very case. In strong words, SUSA would like to remind the administration,
university is for the students and SUSA will fight for justice and rights of
the student fraternity,” said the association.