A joint assembly of CPN-UML-aligned All Nepal National Free Students Union and Nepali Congress-aligned Nepal Students Union was held on the premises of Shankar Dev Campus this morning, where the student leaders reiterated that the Free Students Union election would be held on June 1 at any cost.

Speaking at the assembly, Kishor Bikram Malla, president, ANNFSU, said, “The FSU poll must be held on the scheduled date for the sake of students’ movement and democracy.” He also urged all dissenting student unions to participate in the upcoming poll. “We should participate in the elections by accepting the fact that only one party can be a winner and it could be anyone. Our participation is solely for the welfare of students.”

Meanwhile, NSU President Ranjit Karna urged the UCPN-Maoist-aligned student union not to intimidate them with weapons when they have already given up their arms. “We will not be intimidated with their threats and will conduct the poll at any cost,” he said.

Anik Kishor Ghimire, president, ANNFSU-Sixth, said those conspiring against the FSU poll were not true supporters of the students’ movement.

Hundreds of students aligned to the ruling parties participated in today’s assembly. An alliance of 19 student unions led by the UCPN-Maoist-aligned All Nepal National Independent Students Union-Revolutionary have been staging various activities demanding the deferral of election.

source: the himalayan times, 20 may 2014