Fresh protests rock Hyderabad varsity

Not ready to accept the appeal of the Vice Chancellor to return to classes and restore normalcy, the students said the revocation of suspension of four Dalit scholars announced Thursday was not “unconditional”, as per the circular issued by the university. “We reject the conditions stipulated on it,” student leader Zuhail told reporters here, accusing the university of “mocking” at them. 

Seeking an end to the impasse, teachers Friday urged Vice Chancellor Prof Appa Rao Podile to initiate a dialogue with students and teachers. 

“He can understand the problems. So let him come and address the faculty, listen to them. That is what everybody unanimously decided,” the association’s former president K Lakshminarayana said after a meeting of teachers. He said the VC should also go to the agitating students and talk to them to see that normalcy is restored on the campus. He said the decision taken at Friday’s meeting had been communicated to the VC. 

The mother of Rohith Vemula on Friday refused to meet Vice-Chancellor Appa Rao Podile when he went to her house, saying she would meet him only on the campus along with four other students who were suspended.The VC, along with two other professors, went to meet Rohith’s mother, Radhika, at her residence in Uppal area.

Irani talks to Rohit’s mother: Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani on Friday spoke to the mother of Rohit Vemula, the Dalit scholar who committed suicide, over phone and assured her that ‘justice’ will be done in this case. Smriti Irani told Rohit’s mother that appropriate action will be taken on the basis of the report of the judicial inquiry.