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In the wake of the tragic deaths of three UPSC aspirants in a flooded basement in Delhi's Rajinder Nagar, Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena met with protesting students on Monday, offering multiple assurances aimed at addressing their concerns and demands. The meeting, however, was marked by a tense atmosphere as some demonstrators began sloganeering against the L-G, causing him to leave prematurely.
Saxena, whose office announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the families of the deceased students, promised to work towards securing commensurate compensation following the meeting. He further pledged action within 24 hours against government officials deemed responsible for negligence. The students' demands, as relayed by the L-G's office, included immediate compensation from the coaching center on moral grounds, strict action against those responsible for the lapses, and a comprehensive overhaul of the drainage and wiring network in the area.
Furthermore, the students called for an immediate safety audit of all buildings and basements in Rajinder Nagar, a halt to exorbitant rent demands, and the immediate implementation of the Delhi Rent Control Act. Saxena's office confirmed that he assured action on both these fronts. The Joint Task Force, previously established by the Delhi High Court to investigate a fire incident in a coaching center in Mukherjee Nagar, will now also conduct a survey of all buildings in Rajinder Nagar, sealing off any basements or illegal structures that violate building regulations.
Despite the L-G's efforts to appease the students, the meeting was marred by disruptions from certain student unions. These unions, who were not directly affiliated with the civil services aspirants, engaged in sloganeering against Saxena, leading to concerns among the protesters that their demands would be overshadowed. The incident highlighted the complex dynamics at play within the student community, with differing opinions and approaches toward engaging with the government on crucial issues.
Source: Delhi L-G meets student protesters, offers multiple assurances