'Safety of students is prime concern': Irani on NIT row

Surat ( Gujarat): Asserting that the safety of the students at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Srinagar was her prime concern, Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Smriti Irani on Wednesday said that her ministry officials are in the varsity campus to ensure that all of their issues are looked into. "Law and order is a state subject. I have spoken to Mehbooba Mufti, she has assured me that students are safe there and that a division level inquiry has been initiated. Some students are worried about their marks sheets. HRD officials are in the campus and they have spoke to over 500 students," Irani told reporters here. "Our officials are there to extends all possible help to students, they will stay there the exams are over," she added. Meanwhile, a two member central team from the Union Human Resource and Development (HRD) Ministry reached the NIT in Srinagar today to take stock of the situation after tension gripped the campus. The team comprising Director Technical Education of the HRD Ministry and an Under Secretary-level HRD officer interacted with the students at the varsity. The team will assess the situation and hold deliberations with the divisional administration, senior police officials and NIT authorities. The entire incident has sent the political temperature in the nation soaring with politicos criricising the Centre as well as the newly-formed state government. Unrest was witnessed again at the NIT campus yesterday after the scene of clash which took place last week, with outstation students expressing a sense of insecurity and attempting to leave the campus, leading to a confrontation with the police in which some were injured. Tension simmered in the NIT campus last week after India lost the World T20 semi-final to the West Indies. Some engineering students from outside the state claimed Kashmiri students had chanted anti-India slogans and burst firecrackers after India's defeat.