V-C must go,' demand students as HCU revokes suspension of 4 Dalit students
Hyderabad: The storm over the suicide of Dalit student Rohith Vemula in Hyderabad University intensified on Thursday despite the revocation of the suspension of four of his co-research scholars as the Controller of Examinations and 12 other faulty members belonging to SC/ST communities gave up their administrative posts in solidarity.
Read: Hyderabad University takes back four suspended Dalit students
Wilting under relentless pressure from the students agitating for the removal of the Vice Chancellor Appa Rao and punishment for those responsible for the suicide of Rohith Vemula, the varsity Executive Council met and decided to "terminate" the punishment imposed on the students.
But the protesting students were not satisfied with the revocation of the suspension and burnt copies of the EC decision.
Read: HCU suicide: 10 professors resign from administrative posts, slam Smriti Irani
In solidarity with the students, the Controller of Examinations, Chief Medical Officer and Chief Warden were among the 13 faculty members belonging to SC-ST communities who gave up their administrative posts which they were holding as an additional responsibility.
Vijaya Kumar, one of the students, whose suspension was revoked, said this was not enough.
Read: HCU suicide: Prof had asked Rohith Vemula if ‘Dalit’ got him grant
"The VC must go. This (revocation) is a welcome decision. But we can't celebrate it because Rohith is not there. We are not able to accept your decision. We have other demands like appropriate compensation and a job for one of the members of Rohith's family.
The HCU had in September last year suspended the five students, including Rohith, for six months (entire semester) for allegedly assaulting ABVP leader Susheel Kumar in August. But, the suspension was later revoked. However, in December, while allowing them to attend classes, the HCU had denied them access to the hostel.
Read: HCU suicide: BJP dalit leader attacks Bandaru, Irani
The five research scholars, under the umbrella of a Joint Action Committee, had termed their "expulsion" (except classrooms and workshops related to subject of their study) from hostel as "undemocratic" and a "social boycott" and were forced to sleep in a make-shift tent on the campus. After the alleged suicide of Rohith, the issue sparked strong reactions on the campus.
In the statment, HCU Vice-Chancellor Prof Appa Rao Podile, who is under attack over the issue, appealed to the university community to maintain calm and harmony under the extraordinary circumstances prevailing on the campus and repose faith in the internal mechanisms to resolve the issue.
Read: Hyderabad scholar death: UoH failed to stem the rot, says probe team
He urged all in the university to contribute to resuming regular class work, research activities and administrative work without further delay.
Rohith, whose body was found hanging in a hostel room on January 17, was among the five research scholars who were suspended by university in August last year.
The suspension orders against D Prasanth, Vijay Kumar, Sheshaiah Chemuudugunta and Velpula Sunkanna have been revoked.
