Pokhara, February 13

Students at the Gandaki Medical College of Pokhara who are agitating against extra fees charged by the college, said the college was trying to suppress their agitation. The students held a press conference on the college premises today to report unfair pressure they are facing from the college administration.

“Just a few days back we were taken to Dhikur Pokhari Deurali, some 20km from Pokhara, professedly for talks, but they didn’t want to discuss the agenda. They only told us to end the agitation,” said Rabina Mishra.

Another student Prabin Gautam said they were dismayed when the college avoided discussing the agenda of the agitation. “Our first demand was that the college return the extra fees ranging from Rs 75,000 to Rs 100,000 it had been collecting annually from each student, but the college was unwilling to address this concern,” he said.

“There were formal and informal talks with the college administration but as the latter was not ready to return the extra amount it had charged us, there was no way we could reach consensus,” Gautam added, saying there has been constant pressure from the college administration to end the agitation.

Classes have been halted for the past 14 days after students of MBBS, BDS, BNS, BSC Nursing, Bachelor in Pharmacy, BSc MLT started agitation. The students started a relay hunger strike from February 10 accusing the college of ignoring their demands.

Treatment services at the college has also been affected ever since students padlocked the OPD from February 5 and the reception counter from February 11.