Cong slams BITS ‘silence and denial’ over student deaths

PANAJI
The Congress party has demanded a full-fledged independent judicial probe into the repeated student deaths at the BITS Pilani Goa campus, after a 20-year-old female student from Bengaluru committed suicide.
Calling each death “a preventable tragedy”, the Congress leaders demanded an independent judicial inquiry involving mental health professionals, education experts and student representatives to examine all student deaths, campus culture and academic pressure. “Until there is transparency and accountability, such incidents will continue,” they warned.
Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao said the incident exposes a disturbing pattern of “silence, delay and denial” by the institution. He pointed out that earlier student deaths remain under inquiry with no clear conclusions, accountability or time-bound closure.
Alemao said repeated assurances about helplines and wellness initiatives ring hollow when students continue to die.
“There has been no independent review of the systemic stress students face, especially those enrolled in high-pressure programmes like the dual degree course. Condolences and committees cannot replace accountability,” Alemao said, adding that the State government must intervene decisively.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Amit Patkar echoed similar concerns, holding both the State government and the BITS management responsible. He questioned Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s silence on the issue, stating that the government cannot distance itself when young lives are being lost with alarming regularity.
Patkar said the campus lacks a credible and effective student safety framework and described the existing mental health support system as “grossly inadequate”. “Elite institutions are being turned into pressure cookers where academic stress, exam anxiety and isolation are pushing students to the edge,” he said.
Both leaders demanded answers from BITS Pilani management on why warning signs are repeatedly ignored, why students feel unsupported, and why corrective steps have failed to prevent further tragedies.