KIIT staffers apologise over viral remark against Nepali students

By Prateek Shukla, New Delhi, Feb 19 (Business Standard): Faculty members at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Odisha have issued apologies after a controversial video surfaced during campus protests. The demonstrations began following the alleged suicide of Prakriti Lamsal, a Nepali student, reportedly due to harassment.

In response, the institution initially ordered the expulsion of Nepali students but later retracted the decision after widespread backlash.

Significantly, staff members Manjusa Pandey and Jayanti Nath were recorded making remarks that drew comparisons between the university’s budget and Nepal’s national budget, sparking widespread criticism. In the viral video, Pandey stated, “We are feeding and teaching over 40,000 students for free.”

Meanwhile, Jayanti Nath was heard telling Nepali students, “That is equivalent to your country’s budget.” Both Pandey and Nath have now expressed regret over their comments, acknowledging that they were made impulsively.

Pandey clarified that her remarks on February 16 were “spur of the moment” and did not reflect the views of KIIT University. She apologised for any distress caused to Nepali students or the people of Nepal.

Nath admitted that her comments were not intended to offend but were made in response to allegations made during the protest, which claimed that India and KIIT were “corrupt and poor”. She asserted that her response was meant to counter these claims rather than demean Nepal or its citizens.

 The video’s circulation heightened tensions on campus, leading to clashes between security personnel and students seeking justice for Lamsal.