STUDENTS ANGRY OVER HYDERABAD VARSITY INTERIM V-C
HYDERABAD: Protests continued in the University of Hyderabad on Sunday as students called for the removal of Vipin Srivastava, appointed interim V-C, as he was the head of the panel that recommended the suspension of the five Dalit students — including Rohith Vemula — last year.
HYDERABAD: The impasse at the University of Hyderabad is likely to continue as the protesting students and the SC/ ST teachers’ forum have opposed the appointment of professor Vipin Srivastava as the new in-charge vice-chancellor.
Amid protests on Sunday, the university announced that vicechancellor Appa Rao had gone on leave and the senior most professor Vipin Srivastava would take over as the in-charge vice-chancellor with immediate effect.
However, the move failed to quell the protests as students alleged that Srivastava too had a role in the suspension of five Dalit scholars at the university.
Professor Srivastava, who teaches physics, was the head of the sub-committee of the university’s executive council that concurred with the findings of the Proctorial Board that recommended the suspension of five students following their attack on a ABVP leader Susheel Kumar in August last year.
Meanwhile, the SC/ ST teacher’s forum also stated that prof Srivastava was accused in the suicide of a Dalit student Senthil in 2008. “We are shocked and dismayed at prof Srivastava assuming office. In the light of his involvement in both suicide cases, he should be asked to step down immediately,” the forum said in a statement.
Speaking to HT, the forum convener Sudhakar Babu said that prof Srivastava being in the vice-chancellor’s chair could influence the judicial commis- sion announced by the MHRD to probe the circumstances in Vemula suicide.
“For the probe to be fair, we want prof Srivastava removed and another professor who is acceptable to all should be appointed as the vice-chancellor,” said Babu.
The forum also expressed its disappointment with the decision of the authorities not removing Appa Rao from the vice-chancellor’s post.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, seven new students – two girls and five boys – took the places of those who were admitted to hospital on Saturday after their condition deteriorated following a four-day fast. On Monday, the Joint Action Committee of the protesting students called for a Chalo UoH march.