Admission of fake students in various Kathmandu Valley-based colleges has fuelled disputes among various student unions in the run-up to Free Student Union elections, leading to the closure of at least six colleges in the valley.

The CPN-UML-aligned All Nepal National Free Students Union (ANNFSU) padlocked the Thamel based-Saraswoti Multiple Campus some days ago, while the Nepali Congress-aligned Nepal Students Union (NSU) followed suit at the Baneshwor based-Nepal Commerce Campus on May 18.

Not the one to lag behind, the CPN-Maoist-aligned All Nepal National Independent Students Union-Revolutionary today locked the Exhibition Road-based Ratna Rajya Campus and the Kirtipur-based Tribhuvan University Campus.

The NSU and the ANNFSU have padlocked the Sanothimi Campus, while disputes over fake admissions have hit the administration department of the Pashupati Multiple Campus.

Sarad Rasaili, president of the CPN-Maoist aligned ANNISU-R, said enrolling fake students for victory in FSU elections is a wrong practice.

“The admission of Khetala Bidhyarthi (fake students) has denied genuine students the chance to enrol at colleges and cast votes in FSU elections,” he said. Because of fake admissions, students of bachelor’s level (second year) have not been able to enrol at third year, he said.

Rasaili said his union will obstruct FSU polls if campuses concerned do not strike out fake students from their rosters and deny genuine ones the opportunity to cast votes.

Himal Sharma, president of the UCPN-Maoist-aligned ANNISU-R, demanded cancellation of fake admissions.

“We are ready to launch an investigation into the admission of fake students,” he said, adding, “The campus administration should also pay attention to this issue.”

Ranjit Karna, NSU president, said NSU will hold talks with all student unions on the matter.

Madhav Dhungel, ANNFSU president, said his union will follow suit if all student unions agree to get rid of fake admissions.

Rudra Poudel, chief of the Ratna Rajya Campus, said student unions should sort out the issue of fake students through talks.

He pointed that it will be difficult to hold FSU polls on time if disputes persist. The election committee has to publicise the list of voters for FSU polls, slated for June 6, on May 24.

source:the himalayan times,20 may 2013