Hyderabad Central University VC Appa Rao rejoins work, students go on rampage

Mangalore Today News Network

Hyderabad, Mar 22, 2016: Ugly scenes were witnessed at the University of Hyderabad on a day when Vice Chancellor Appa Rao Podile rejoined work after nearly two months on leave.

 

Students, who have been protesting ever since Dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula committed suicide inside the varsity campus, vandalised the VC’s residence where he was due to address the press in a shortwhile.

TV visuals showed broken furniture, television set etc as students angry over the VC rejoining work went on a rampage.

The development came amid news that Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) president Kanhaiya Kumar, who has been booked under sedition over raising of anti-national slogans inside the university, will be visiting Hyderabad Central University on Wednesday.

Professor Appa Rao had in the last week of January proceeded on an indefinite leave in the wake of Rohith’s suicide.

Rohith’s suicide on the university campus in January had led to protests not just inside the varsity but by students community across the country.

Amid intense pressure, Appa Rao had proceeded on leave on January 24.

Rohith, 26, committed suicide by hanging himself in the Hyderabad Central University campus in January. He was earlier suspended from the university hostel in August last year by the administration for allegedly attacking an ABVP leader.

The university had allegedly stopped giving scholarship to Rohith after the incident which led to financial hardship and culminated in his suicide.

Also in August 2015, Union minister Bandaru Dattatreya, in a letter to HRD Minister Smriti Irani, had alleged that the Hyderabad Central University had become “a den of casteist, extremist and anti-national politics”.

It was alleged that Dattatreya had sought action against research scholars including Rohith.

Appa Rao was slammed for not doing anything to help Rohith.

The police had booked Dattatreya, Appa Rao and two others for ‘abetting’ the suicide of Rohith.