JNU students protest again on Rohith issue

Jawaharlal Nehru University students on Wednesday protested outside the HRD Ministry in New Delhi. They were seeking the sacking of Hyderabad University Vice-Chancellor Appa Rao Podile for his alleged role in the suicide of Rohith Vemula and the removal of police from the campus.

A student delegation, led by JNU Students Union vice-president Shehla Rashid Shora presented a memorandum to HRD Secretary V.S. Oberoi. “Our major demands include immediate removal of police presence in Hyderabad university campus, removal of Vice-Chancellor and dropping of false charges against students unconditionally,” Shehla said, according to a PTI report. “The top official told us that ministry cannot do anything about removal of the VC as it comes under the purview of the Visitor. He also said that they can’t intervene on issue of police presence as interventions are not being taken in good manner.”

The fresh protests were triggered by the resumption of office by Appa Rao after a leave of two months.

In the morning, JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar, who had reached Hyderabad, was denied the permission to address a meeting on the campus. He was invited by the Joint Action Committee for Social Justice, which is fighting for “justice” for Vemula.