Sikkim University Student Detained After Controversial ‘Nepali Is A Foreign Language’ Comment

Gangtok — A student at Sikkim University has been taken into preventive custody after sparking outrage on campus with comments widely seen as derogatory toward the Nepali community and language.

The incident took place in an official WhatsApp group belonging to the Commerce department, where Raj Shekar Sarkar, a student from Varanasi, allegedly referred to Nepali as a “foreign country’s language” and suggested that those who want to speak it should “go to Nepal”.

The remark, reportedly posted on August 14, triggered immediate backlash from students and faculty members. Several student bodies demanded Sarkar’s expulsion and filed official complaints with the police.

Sikkim Police confirmed that Sarkar has been placed under preventive custody under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for promoting enmity between communities.

“Our demand is very clear — the student should be permanently removed from the university. He has hurt the sentiments of Nepali-speaking people across the state, the country and even globally,” said Anup Regmi, President of the Sikkim University Students’ Association.

Although the student issued an apology following the uproar, the controversy has continued to grow.

The university has set up a high-level committee to investigate the matter.
“Once we receive the report, appropriate action will be taken. We also plan to sensitise students. This incident is unfortunate,” said Laxuman Sharma, Registrar In-Charge of Sikkim University.

The Nepali language is one of India’s officially recognised languages under the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, and it is widely spoken across Sikkim, Darjeeling, and other parts of the country.

News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.