Students hasty study at flexing muscles

Student unions affiliated to political parties are flexing their muscles and announcing protest programmes for non-academic issues‚ putting study on the back burner.In the run-up to the Free Student Union’s elections scheduled to take place in March 2011‚ Nepali Congress-affiliated Nepal Students’ Union and CPN-UML-aligned All Nepal National Free Students’ Union have been involved in attack and counter attack.Following a khukuri attack in Tri Chandra Campus on December 19‚ a series of instances of hooliganism have come to the fore.The NSU cadres thrashed ANNFSU TC unit member Birendra Rawal on December 19. Rawal‚ who sustained injuries on his right limbs‚ is still receiving treatment at Kathmandu Model Hospital.Both student unions have demanded that the case be investigated and culprit be punished at the earliest.NSU Vice President Rishikesh Jung Shah suggested that a thorough investigation be carried out in connection with the TC row and the culprit be taken to justice.

On his part‚ ANNFSU General Secretary Kishor Bikram Malla said they had no animosity with NSU; however‚ they were fighting against the NSU-shielded hooligans who attacked their friends in disguise.Both student unions have agreed that solution was possible after talks but denied to sit for condition-less talks. Against this backdrop‚ both ANNFSU and NSU announced separate protest programmes today. As per the announced protests‚ NSU will enforce an hour-long chakkajam from 9 am on Sunday while ANNFSU is going to stage a protest gathering and showcase rally at various campuses on December 26‚ 27 and 29.

Around 50 ANNFSU cadres and Youth Force members had attacked NSU-affiliated students‚ namely Mahesh Ghimire‚ Bipin Koirala and Subash Khatiwada‚ on December 20. Subsequently‚ ANNFSU announced three-day protest programmes on December 21 that included submission of memorandum to Kathmandu Chief District Officer‚ organising a torch rally leading to the Valley bandh today‚ demanding arrest of the culprit‚ treatment of injured Rawal and compensation to the victim. In turn‚ ANNFSU students attacked TC Campus FSU Acting President Mahendra Karki with a khukuri in that evening. NSU accused ANNFSU TC unit President Samik Badal of the main culprit.

Besides‚ NSU issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the government to release its cadre Sanjaya Kumar Yadav‚ who was arrested for his involvement in an scuffle.Meanwhile‚ talks between the Kathmandu District Administration Office and ANNFSU failed to reach a conclusion. Brawl tale does not end here. Youth Force cadres attacked Ramesh Poudel‚ NSU-TC unit member‚ with khukuri this morning in front of Bir Hospital. According to Ram Prasad Adhikari‚ NSU publicity department chief‚ the Youth Force cadres have injured his left arm.However‚ neither of the unions is ready to admit that they attacked the other union cadres.