Student unions demand evidence of threats from education minister
KATHMANDU, AUGUST 22
Taking to social media, Minister of Education, Science, and Technology, Bidya Bhattarai said Tribhuvan University was unsafe and asked Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak to ensure security.
Bhattarai took to X and sought security, citing intimidation and threats, including 'physical attack', in recent days. "The entire university has become unsafe as a result of attempts to attack officials and threaten professors at TU. I strongly request security arrangements at TU," said Bhattarai.
Several comments emerged after Bhattarai's appeal.
"Thank you for providing the necessary advice. I did it to make a public appeal. It is not a matter of impulsivity. I would also like to let you know that I have been in constant contact and coordination for the past five days," she responded.
The issue of "security threat" raised by Education Minister Bhattarai is related to the appointment of the head of the Central Department of Sociology at the University.
Kusum Shakya, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Sociology, recommended Tikaram Gautam, Pasang Sherpa, and Manhari Dhakal as department heads a few days ago. After Gautam was recommended as number one, the university became embroiled in controversy.
Shakya has been accused of violating the law by recommending Gautam, who is close to the Nepali Congress.
According to media reports, the rector's office has asked the dean for an explanation after forwarding the name of the second-ranked associate professor. But there was no response from the Dean's Office.
University's official say the direct interest of some student organisation leaders in the appointment of the department head has fueled the controversy.
The university has recently faced security challenges as the leaders of the ruling party Nepali Congress' sister organisation, Nepal Student Union, and CPN-UML's sister organisation, All Nepal National Free Student Union, hold opposing views on the issue.
Meanwhile, Registrar, Kedar Prasad Rizal, wrote a letter to Vice-Chancellor and Education Minister Bhattarai, requesting that security measures.
In the letter dated August 16, Rizal stated that due to the current situation at the university, the security system for officials and the central office premises was becoming difficult.
Last Friday, officials sent a letter to the Ministry of Education requesting security arrangements, citing pressure and threats to make the appointment on the Dean's Office list.
Although the letter was supposed to be forwarded to the Ministry of Home Affairs, it was kept at the Ministry of Education.
At the same time, Tribhuvan University Vice-Chancellor Baral, Rector Khadga KC, and Registrar Kdar Rizal are all on leave due to insecurity reasons.
Hence, Minister Bhattarai contended that despite raising the issue of insecurity in Parliament and maintaining constant communication with the prime minister, home minister, and others, the lack of security was very much there. She stated that she appealed to the public to spark a public debate after determining that this alone was insufficient.
On the other hand, the TU Free Students' Union (FSU) has demanded that evidence be provided as to who, when, and how the university officials were threatened.
On Wednesday, FSU President Shyam Raj Ojha issued a statement requesting clarification on who, when, how, and by what means the security of officials was threatened.
"We challenge the office-bearers to resign from their positions if they intend to dodge their responsibilities by making excuses due to their inability to run the university on their own or clarify the accusation made with intention to politicize the issue," said Ojha in a statement.
