Says govt has not told TU to postpone the FSU polls

Kathmandu, February 5:

Vice Chancellor of the Tribhuvan University (TU) Madhav Sharma said today the TU has not received any request from the government to postpone the Free Students’ Union (FSU) election, saying that it can conduct the polls if student unions are ready.

“We have no compulsion to abide by the decision of the Seven Party Alliance (SPA),” said VC Madhav Sharma while addressing an interaction on Free Students’ Union election here today.

He said that the Free Students’ Union polls would create a conducive environment for the April 10 Constituent Assembly election, but the SPA did not realise this.

“We would consult with the student leaders if we receive a formal request from the government to postpone the election,” he said.

Senior Maoist leader CP Gajurel said the six parties of the alliance and the Election Commission suggested the SPA to postpone the FSU election.

“The first proposal to postpone the FSU polls had came from Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala,” he claimed.

He said the SPA is always in favour of creating a conducive environment for the CA polls. He urged the student leaders to remain calm and support the SPA’s cause to make CA polls a success.

Thakur Gaire, president of the All Nepal National Free Students’ Union (ANNFSU), and Nepal Students’ Union president Pradip Poudel criticised the ‘interference’ of the SPA in the students’ polls.

Poudel said the eight students could jointly demand the SPA to withdraw its decision, while Gaire proposed to a organise protest rally and demanded the SPA to conduct the FSU polls on February 28.

General Secretary of the All Nepal National Independent Students’ Union-Revolutionary Himal Sharma said his union wants the FSU polls held in Jestha.