HYDERABAD: The academic boycott called by JAC for Social Justice at the University of Hyderabad on Monday received a mixed response as the agitating students did not prevent those who wished to attend classes. However, with the faculty members and students who were lodged in Cherlapally prison being granted bail on Monday, students are planning a massive freedom rally on Tuesday evening to welcome them back.
“We won’t boycott classes on Tuesday and we will have a massive public meeting and freedom rally inside university after class hours,” said Zuhail KP, president, UoH Students Union.
The strike was complete in social sciences departments while classes continued as usual at Science departments. “The university has turned into a prison from being one of the most liberal campuses till recently. Lawyers, relatives of students, media, Rohith’s mother are not being allowed to enter the campus. What normalcy are they talking about?” asked a student at the protest venue at UoH on Monday.
Meanwhile, the varsity administration in a press release said that all classes and internal examinations were held as per schedule on Monday. There was no disruption of any kind, it said.
According to the release from administration, about 200 of the total 5,200 students participated in a peaceful protest rally near the main gate and administration building.
Further, clarifying on media reports on University of Edinburgh deciding to snap ties with the varsity, it said that there exists neither any official ties between the two nor has it signed any MoU with that university. It said that there has been no official communication from University of Edinburgh so far.
In an appeal to students, the VC requested them to rise above confrontational attitude. “I, and my team wish to lead by example in this area, with our willingness to be always open for a dialogue with students.” Stating that it was ‘painful’ for him to see some students and faculty members spend time in jail, he said: “While I wanted to intervene, legal system is beyond our control and jurisdiction. I request students to resist any temptation for violence on campus as it would not yield any productive outcome. Please restrain yourself from causing pain to yourself, your parents and the varsity,’’ he said.”
Responding to a national call for public protest gathering at Ambedkar statues all over the country, a group of activists and supporters of agitating students of University of Hyderabad staged a protest at Ambedkar statute on the Tank Bund. They were whisked away by police in the afternoon.
Similarly, protests were held outside English and Foreign Languages University by students of that varsity and classes were boycotted by them.
They took out a rally on the campus where the students were stopped by police. Several civil liberties activists addressed the students. The students of Osmania University also took part in the protests.