Jagan backs HCU students; demands action against VC, Mantris

YSR Congress Party president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy here on Wednesday demanded that the Centre initiate stern action against the Hyderabad Central University Vice-Chancellor and also the two Union ministers, whose letters prompted Dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula to commit suicide in one of the Campus hostels.

Jaganmohan Reddy visited the HCU campus on Wednesday and paid floral tributes to a portrait of the deceased student Rohith Vemula. He also expressed solidarity with the student community and strongly condemned the unwarranated interference of Union ministers into the campus affairs resulting in the death of the Ph.D student. Jagan also enquired with the student leaders about the incidents that led to the present unrest. After a discussion with the scholars, who went on indefinite fast demanding revocation of suspension on four other Dalit scholars, the YSRCP chief assured them full support from his party. He also visited Rohith’s family and consoled his mother Vemula Radhika and other members on Tuesday.

Addressing the students in the HCU, Jagan observed that a Union minister writing a letter to his cabinet college to look into some unpalatable incidents in the University and set right things amounts to aiming a powerful lethal weapon against a little sparrow. He also demanded revocation of suspension on the four other students immediately.

The YSRCP president also expressed surprise over the campaigning that the deceased research scholar was not an SC but a BC. Why this fuss over caste of the deceased after his death?, he asked and felt that attempts were being made to change the entire episode to save their skin. He also announced that his party MPs would raise the “Rohit issue” in Parliament. (NSS)