Hyderabad University bars three MPs from Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: The three CPM MPs from the state who were on a visit to Hyderabad University on Thursday at the invitation of the students were not allowed to enter the campus.

The three MPs P. K. Biju, M. B. Rajesh and A. Sampath were invited by the students of Hyderabad University who are on a strike demanding the resignation of Vice Chancellor Appa Roa following the police crackdown on students and faculty protesting in that campus. The issue began when the Vice Chancellor, who was on  leave after the suicide of Phd scholar Rohit Vemula, returned to the campus.

Human rights activists Teesta Setalvad was also denied entry to the campus.
Mr Rajesh told Deccan Chronicle, “We met the students outside the gate and held discussions with them. However, the efforts to meet the registrar, faculty and authorities could not take place as the security forces prevented us from entering the campus.”

Mr Rajesh added that after the police denied them permission to enter the campus; they sat in a dharna for two hours in front of the university gate. “However, we ended the dharna later as it caused hindrance for those from outside who wanted to enter the campus and those from inside who wanted to go out of the campus”, Mr Rajesh said.