Claiming that the unrest at the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Srinagar, was “politically motivated,” the Congress on Monday demanded a judicial probe, as hundreds of outstation students left for their home States instead of sitting for exams in the wake of the 10-day standoff.
“We fear there are political motives behind it [the NIT controversy]. We demand an inquiry by a retired judge … Every Kashmiri has a right to study outside. Similarly, others have right to study in Kashmir,” said Congress general secretary and Kashmir affairs in-charge Ambika Soni here after a party meeting.
Ms. Soni accused the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the BJP of “dividing J&K on religious and regional lines.” She asked Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to explain to the people what she achieved after two months of negotiations with the BJP.
On the NIT campus, no protests or sit-ins were reported. However, around 1,200 outstation students, out of 2,700 students, left for home instead of taking their exams, which began as per the Ministry of Human Resource Development’s directions.
“We want to return home for some time. The happenings have taken a mental toll too. We will return in a month or so. We are hopeful that the NIT administration will fulfil our demands related to infrastructure and other issues,” said an outstation M. Tech student, heading for home in Uttar Pradesh.
