Dalit scholar's suicide: SC/ST Teachers Forum to go on hunger strike

The SC /ST Teachers Forum of the University of Hyderabad have decided to go on a hunger strike, demanding the resignation of Vice Chancellor Appa Rao.

They demand incumbent Vice Chancellor Vipin Srivastava to resume administration.

However, the SC/ST Faculty Forum and SC/ST Officers Forum had earlier expressed "shock" over the decision to appoint Srivastava as officiating Vice-Chancellor and alleged that he headed the Executive Council Sub-Committee 'which has been responsible for the death of Rohith'. They also alleged that Srivastava was one of the 'accused' in the suicide of another Dalit student Senthil in 2008.

Earlier, 15 faculty members of the university had resigned from their administrative posts protesting against the interim Vice Chancellor.

The teachers had earlier alleged that baseless and misleading statements by Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani were bringing down the morale of the Dalits holding administrative positions in the university.

Meanwhile, Osmania University's Joint Action Committee has called for 'Chalo CM Camp office' on January 29 to protest against the suicide.