Sharma slams Speaker for denying time to discuss KIIT student’s death

Kathmandu, February 19 — CPN (Maoist Center)'s Deputy General Secretary Janardan Sharma has expressed dissatisfaction with the Speaker of the House, Devaraj Ghimire, for not allowing him to speak in Parliament on the death of Prakriti Lamsal, a Nepali student at KIIT University in Odisha, India.

Sharma raised this concern in a conversation with RatoPati on Wednesday evening.

He stated, "After the incident at KIIT University, when I requested to speak in Parliament, Speaker Ghimire did not grant me the time. This not only reflects the state of our democracy but also highlights the insensitivity of the Parliament's leadership."

Sharma went on to express his frustration over how only government issues and positions are raised in the Parliament, while the issues of the people, like those of Nepali students, are being ignored.

Sharma further added that the incident at KIIT had not only suppressed the voice of Nepali students but also insulted Nepal and its students.

He condemned the expulsion of students from the university as both objectionable and inhumane.

As a former Home Minister, Sharma criticized the government's failure to act swiftly on the matter and to resolve the diplomatic issue in a timely manner.

"While the pain of Prakriti Lamsal's mysterious death remains, the expulsion of students from the university is not only objectionable but also inhumane," Sharma said.

He emphasized that the lack of prompt action by the government and delays in diplomatic intervention reflect its failure.

He also highlighted the need for Nepal to become a high-quality educational hub and stressed the importance of creating domestic employment opportunities and restructuring the economy.