KIIT Staff’s sudden apology to Nepal students after viral clip
Protests erupted at KIIT after a Nepali student died by suicide in her hostel room. The situation worsened when the institute faced allegations of evicting Nepali students. A viral video further fueled the outrage, showing heated exchanges between KIIT staff and Nepali students.
In the video, Professor Manjusha Pandey told students, “We are feeding and teaching over 40,000 students for free.” Another staff member, Jayanti Nath, added, “That is equivalent to your country’s budget.” Their remarks triggered massive backlash on social media.
Under pressure, both staff members issued apology videos. Pandey said her comments on February 16 were made “in the spur of the moment.” She distanced herself from the university, stating, “My words are mine and have nothing to do with KIIT. If my remarks hurt Nepali students or people of Nepal, I sincerely apologize.”
Nath also expressed regret. “I never intended to offend or demean anyone. If my words caused hurt, I deeply regret it,” she said. She explained that she reacted to students allegedly calling India and KIIT “corrupt and poor.” “I defended my country and institution, not attacked Nepal or its people,” she added.
KIIT issued a public apology and removed two officers for their “extremely irresponsible” statements but did not disclose their names. “KIIT welcomes students from across the world and values inclusivity, respect, and care. We regret the incident and reaffirm our commitment to our students’ safety and dignity,” the institute stated. It urged Nepali students to resume their studies immediately.
Unrest at KIIT began on Sunday after Prakriti Lamsal, a 20-year-old B.Tech student, died by suicide. Social media videos showed university security personnel using force against protesting students demanding justice. Authorities arrested two security guards, Ramakanta Nayak (45) and Jogendra Behera (25), charging them under multiple sections of the law.
Some students claimed KIIT evicted them. The institute denied the accusation, stating it “advised” Nepali students to leave after some protesters disrupted law and order.
The protests drew international attention. Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli assured his government was addressing the issue diplomatically. The Indian Embassy in Nepal promised a thorough investigation.
In Odisha, the controversy sparked political tensions. Congress demanded a judicial inquiry and the arrest of KIIT founder Achyuta Samanta. The ruling BJD blamed the unrest on the deteriorating law and order situation under the BJP-led government.
The Odisha government formed a three-member high-level fact-finding team, led by the Additional Chief Secretary (Home), to investigate the matter.
