Dalit scholar suicide: Presidency students on token hunger strike

A section of students of the Presidency University here launched a token hunger strike on Thursday in solidarity with the nationwide protests against the suicide of Hyderabad Dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula.

Students as well as alumni of the varsity are participating in a 24-hour hunger strike that began at 4 p.m. "against all forms of minority oppression".

According to the Independents' Consolidation (IC), a campus-based, non-affiliated, independent students' body which is leading the agitation, "it is imperative we stand up against the ruthless onslaught of Hindutva fascism in whatever capacity we can".

"... and hope to expand the diaspora of constructive political thought in a nation where a research scholar has to lose his gift of life for us to fully comprehend the extent of oppression which minorities are subjected to in the societies of which we call."

A section of students of Jadavpur University boycotted classes on Wednesday.

Widespread protests have rocked India following the death of Vemula, who committed suicide on January 17 following his suspension along with four other Dalit students over an alleged clash with a leader of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).