Baitadi The Mahendranagar-centric agitation for the establishment of a university in the Far-Western Region today spread to Baitadi district, where students picketed the District Administration office to press for the common cause. The protesters also sent a memorandum to Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal via Chief District Officer.

In their memorandum, the students have sought funds for the varsity, the appointment of a chancellor and implementation of pledges related to the varsity.

Pushkarraj Joshi, chairman of the Far-Western Awareness Forum, said the forum has formed a five-member struggle committee under Dipesh Shah to press for the establishment of the university. Nepal Professors’ Association (Baitadi) has expressed solidarity with the students’ agitation.

In Mahendranagar of Kanchanpur district, the students’ agitation shut the bazaar on the third straight day. Educational institutions remained closed and the functioning of government offices and businesses was affected. Though deployed in large numbers, police personnel exercised restraint.

District administration urged all concerned not to opt for protests citing budgetary allocation for the university, but in vain.

source: The Himalayan Times