Hyderabad HC stays arrest of ABVP leaders, protests continue at HCU

Hyderabad: TThe Hyderabad High Court on Monday stayed the arrest of ABVP leaders and HCU students named in the Rohith Vemula suicide case and set the next date of hearing at the end of this month. 

Meanwhile, the Joint Action Committee at the University of Hyderabad has given a 10-day ultimatum to the HCU to fulfil its demands. Protests are ongoing on the campus by members of the committee and other students over the issue. 

The committee had written a letter to the University, demanding the sacking of Appa Rao Podile from the post of Vice-Chancellor. They demanded that interim Vice-Chancellor Vipin Srivastava also be removed. They have accused the two of them of being instrumental in driving Rohith Vemula to suicide, as they were part of the panel that had suspended the Dalit students. 

The Joint Action Committee at UoH wrote to the acting Vice Chancellor Prof. Perisamy, putting forward the following demands:

The interim Vice-Chancellor Dr M Periasamy had said he was told by the Union human resource development ministry on Sunday to tell the executive council to ‘be positive’ to the demands of students.

Dr Periasamy said, “All demands being made by the students cannot be met but we will work towards it. One of the demands is to provide a job to Rohith Vemula’s kin. The EC will see what position can be created for Rohith’s immediate kin, his brother, in the university based on his qualification. It will then submit the proposal to the ministry.”

Read: HCU suicide: JAC writes to acting VC, puts forward demands

On the demand for V-C Prof. Appa Rao Podile's resignation, Dr Periaswamy said, “It is not in our hands as a judicial committee is looking into it. After it submits a report, a decision will be taken by the MHRD.”

On the Rs 50 lakh compensation for Rohith’s family, he said it had come to his knowledge that Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments would provide financial assistance. University teachers have also decided to contribute, he said.

Regarding compensation and jobs to kin of dalits who had committed suicide earlier, the EC would contemplate preparing a report on the demand, he said.

Read: Delhi police under fire over video of cops manhandling protesters

Protests were also carried out by students in Delhi over Rohith's suicide, where the police allegedly assaulted students. One of the protesters uploaded a video on YouTube where police and a few men in plain clothes can be seen assaulting protesting students. Protesters alleged the men in plain clothes were RSS men. 

The Delhi police faced flak from all quarters for their action against students who were peacefully marching to lodge their protest over the Rohith suicide case. 

However, the police have denied using any force against protesting students, despite the video telling a different story. A cop is captured manhandling a girl student who questioned his action.