NEW DELHI/HYDERABAD: JNU students on Saturday held a protest outside Telangana Bhavan in New Delhi demanding the release of 25 students and two faculty members of Hyderabad Central University who were arrested for allegedly vandalising the official residence of the varsity’s vice-chancellor. They were joined by students and professors from Delhi University.
The protest was led by Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students’ Association (BAPSA) and joined by representatives of JNU student bodies related to AISF, AISA and DSF among others.
“The government systematically planned this whole thing to arrest students and divert the public attention from Rohith Vemula’s case,” DU professor Keshav Kumar said.
Meanwhile in Hyderabad, members of the Progressive Democratic Students Union (PDSU) held a demonstration outside the University of Hyderabad (UoH) campus failing to gain entry into the campus. The security personnel at the UoH, however, foiled the attempts of PDSU activists to force their way inside the campus by stopping them at the main gate itself.
The PDSU activists squatted on the road raising slogans demanding arrest of Appa Rao and his removal from the VC’s post. They also demanded immediate release of 25 students and two faculty members arrested in connection with vandalisation of VC’s residence. The PDSU members demanded the arrest of Appa Rao for death of Rohith Vemula.
On Saturday evening, a candle light rally was organized on the campus in support of the arrested students. More than 200 students, who participated in the rally, demanded that the cases registered against the students and the professors be withdrawn.
After violent incidents on March 22, the campus has largely been more or less peaceful. It was devoid of any form of protests. Classes at UoH would resume from Monday. Officials at the university said that semester exams would be conducted from April 15, as scheduled earlier. “There is no change in the exam schedule,” said an official from the university.
Rohith’s Mother Denied entry
Meanwhile Radhika, mother of Rohith Vemula, again tried to enter the campus on Saturday but was stopped by the security. She was subsequently shifted in an ambulance to a private hospital, the security official said.
On March 23, Radhika had gone on a sit-in protest in front of the main entrance of UoH, after she was denied entry inside the campus to meet students who were injured in a police lathicharge on March 22 near V-C’s residence.