Visakhapatnam: The Andhra University faced a complete shutdown and wore a deserted look here on Friday in view of the bandh called by the students protesting the suicide of the University of Hyderabad research scholar Rohith Vemulu. The protesters did not allow the classroom and academic block to function through out the day.
Before taking out a rally from the university to district collectorate, the students conducted a condolence meeting paying tribute to Rohith. AU professor Sharan Raju also joined the rally extending solidarity with the demand of the students. Condemning the caste-based politics, some members of CPI and YSRCP SC cell also participated in the march and demanded justice to the Dalit scholar.
The protesters submitted a memorandum to district collector N. Yuvraj seeking suspension of V-C of UoH and resignation of Union minister Smriti Irani from the ministerial post.
They further demanded formation of a parliamentary committee for an impartial probe into the incidents that led to Rohith’s death. Many visitors and students who had come from other districts for official works, suffered as the administrative block did not function through out the day. “I came to withdraw my PG certificates from Srikakulam, but the work was completely paralysed. Even in bandh called by students earlier, the administration used to function, but this time, it is complete shutdown,” said an ex-student of the varsity who came from Srikakulam.
When asked about the Rohith’s death, ABVP members who are celebrating the golden jubilee of their ‘Student’s Experience in Inter-State Living’ (SEIL) programme’ on the university campus refused to give any comment on this incident.
