Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi today assured agitating outstation students of NIT Srinagar he would raise in Parliament their concerns about safety on the campus and "put pressure" on the government to resolve their problems.
The party has also decided send a delegation to HRD Minister Smriti Irani over the issue soon.
"Met students & parents from NIT Srinagar who expressed concern over the safety & security of students on campus.
"I assured them that the Congress Party would raise their concerns & put pressure on the Govt to resolve the matter," Gandhi said on Twitter.
Party spokesperson RPN Singh, who accompanied the students along with some office bearers of the NSUI to Gandhi's residence, said a delegation of Congress leaders party's including chief whip Jyotiraditya Scindia, Rajasthan PCC chief Sachin Pilot, party's communication department chief Randeep Surjewala and others will meet Irani to discuss the issue.
"We will seek an appointment with the HRD minister soon and apprise her about the situation. Security is a basic thing and any Indian student must be able to study anywhere in the country. Rahul ji assured the students that Congress will raise the issue in Parliament and take up the matter with the government with all earnestness so that their grievances are redressed," Singh told PTI.
Parents of some of the students also accompanied them during their meeting with Gandhi.
Raising the issue in the Lok Sabha today Scindia said students do not trust Jammu and Kashmir Police since they "brutally lathicharged" them and he wanted to know from the Home Minister when the CRPF will be fully deployed on the campus.
"At the same time, what action is the government taking against those J&K policemen who resorted to lathicharge since you are part of the government in the state," he asked.
Scindia accused the J and K Police of "brutally" attacking the protesting outstation students of NIT who were chanting slogans like 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'.
His comments invited strong protests from treasury benches, particularly from BJP MP and former Union Home Secretary R K Singh, who said J and K Police is known for its sacrifices for the country's unity and integrity and such comments were unwarranted.
The students had on April 23 taken out a protest march in Jammu and demanded permanent deployment of the CRPF on the campus, reshuffling of college administration and immediate formation of Student's Council.
The students had also held an agitation at Jantar Mantar a few days back.
The institute was in the news following a clash between the local and outstation students.
