In a move aimed at soothing ruffled feathers on Hyderabad University campus, the administration on Thursday withdrew suspension of four Dalit students against whom action had been taken, along with Rohith Vemula, who had committed suicide on Sunday.
However, in a related development, 13 professors holding administrative positions have resigned over alleged misrepresentation of facts by Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani.
Given the fresh crisis, Centre is dispatching Minister of State for HRD Upendra Kushwaha to the campus to engage the students. Kushwaha is from a Socialist background and comes from a socially backward community. According to sources, Kushwaha has been found suitable to act as a government emissary as he represents an extremely backward community.
“Kushwaha is scheduled to go to Hyderabad on Saturday to attend a function of Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti as chief guest. Since, the programme is being organised on the university campus, the minister would also find some time to interact with students protesting over the suicide of Venula,” a source close to the minister told Millennium Post.
Interestingly, Irani, while addressing a press conference on Wednesday, had categorically stated that no one from the ministry would visit the campus.
Justifying her move, Irani had said, “No one from the ministry is visiting the campus as it will give an impression that HRD Ministry is intervening into the matter. We are waiting for the Fact Finding Committee report and action will be taken on the basis of it.”
Sources in the ministry also said that the two-member Fact Finding Committee is expected to submit its report on Friday and Kushwaha would be tasked to “convey” the final verdict of HRD Ministry to Hyderabad University citing findings of the report.
Meanwhile, the protest against the administration over suicide by Vemula, received a shot in the arm as 13 faculty members of put in their papers from their administrative positions. Among those who have resigned include Professor V Krishna, controller of exams, Chief Medical Officer Dr Ravendra Kumar, 10 hostel wardens and chief warden Nagaraju. After resigning from their posts, the professors joined the students protesting against the Narendra Modi government and the university
vice-chancellor. They all belong to SC/ST communities.
Despite the university revoking the suspension of the five research scholars, including Vemula, with immediate effect, the protest doesn’t seem to be dying down. The decision to withdraw suspension was taken at an emergency meeting of the Executive Council.
The protesting students have demanded sacking of vice-chancellor Appa Rao and labour minister Bandaru Dattatreya and action against BJP MLC Ramachandra Rao. They have also demanded a judicial investigation into the matter and a compensation of Rs 5 crore and a home and government job to Vemula’s family.