HCU VC asks students to rise above 'anger and confrontational attitude'
Hyderabad: The Vice Chancellor of Hyderabad Central University (HCU) Appa Rao Podile on Monday appealed students protesting against his resumption of duty to work towards a resolution and rise above 'anger and confrontational attitude'.
“Let’s work towards resolution, instead of confrontation. Let’s together build bridges than walls in this university. I request you to rise above anger and confrontational attitude as students of higher education in this university,” Podile said soon after a Hyderabad court granted bail to students who were arrested for vandalising his office.
Read: HCU row: Court grants bail to arrested students, faculty members
Following the suicide of Dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula in January, Podile had gone on leave as students accused him of abetment to suicide. He resumed office on March 23.
Furious over Podile's resumption of duty, students broke into his office earlier this month, vandalised and ransacked the premises after they staged a protest demanding his resignation. The accused students and two faculty members were arrested and taken into judicial custody.
Read: Students must focus only on studies: Hyderabad varsity V-C
Speaking on the incident and the continued protests in the varsity, Podile said, “Recent incidents in campus are painful not just for administration but also students on campus & university alumni across world.”
He said his team was open for a dialogue with students and asked them to look for a peaceful resolution in the matter.
Read: HCU limps back to normalcy as classes resume despite boycott
On March 23, the HCU authorities announced suspension of classes for four days from March 23 to 26 in view of the situation prevailing on the campus.
Classes however resumed in HCU on Monday amid a fresh boycott call given by Joint Action Committee for Social Justice (JAC), which is leading the protest on Rohith Vemula's suicide issue.
Read: Congress to meet President tomorrow on HCU issue: Sushil Shinde
Assuring the students that they would get full support from him and the teachers in attending classes, Podile said in a circular that students must focus on their studies and not get deterred by any “advise or persuasion”.
