Student unions aligned to Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and UCPN-Maoist today urged the government to form a high-level probe committee to solve existing problems in Biratnagar based-Purvanchal University (PU).

All academic and administrative activities in the university have been halted for the past nine months due to the ongoing protest of various political parties and students.

Lately, PU professors had warned of mass resignation if the government and the university failed to hold talks with the agitating bodies.

Local leaders of various political parties and agitating students have padlocked the university demanding fair investigation into financial embezzlement and misuse of authority by the university’s senior officials, including the Vice Chancellor.

Issuing a joint statement, Nepal Students Union, All Nepal National Free Students Union, and All Nepal National Independent students Union-aligned to NC, CPN-UML and UCPN-Maoist today urged the agitating parties and the government to solve existing problems through talks.

“We condemn the government for staying mum regarding the activities in PU where more than 25,000 students are studying,” the statement said.

The unions also urged political parties to organise protests against financial irregularities and misuse of power in the PU without affecting academic calendar.

Last week, the University Grants Commission, in its investigation report forwarded to the Ministry of Education, had recommended the government to form a separate committee to probe into financial irregularities and misuse of authority in the university. After receiving the report, the education ministry had urged the university to sort out the problems through talks.

source: the himalayan times,25 August 2013