by Shakir Ashraf
SRINAGAR: The students of Kashmir University are protesting over the closing of the reading room in the university since the reading down of Article 370. Due to successive pandemic triggered lockdowns, the varsity remained closed. But with the receding of the second wave, varsity resumed offline mode of classes but students complained of lack of reading room facilities.
The students alleged that amid bone-chilling cold they have to study in parks because of the closure of the reading room. According to students, the reading room was closed after the Indian government unilaterally abrogated the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and now three years have passed and offline classes have resumed but authorities of Kashmir University have not opened the library despite the continuous requests of students.
“Administration of KU administration is depriving the basic right. In the name of renovation, the KU administration is giving lame excuses. The administration is telling us that they are renovating the reading room. They informed us that district administration is not allowing them to open a reading room,” said Tajamul Islam, student of a law department.
According to Islam, when they contacted the district administration they were told that they have nothing to do with the internal issues of the University as the KU is an autonomous body.
PeerZada Irshad, Chief librarian KU refuted the allegations. “All the libraries and reading rooms in KU are open, hundreds of students come regularly in reading rooms, these are three to four students who are complaining and are lying,” he said.
