Interim HCU V-C seeks students' help in restoring normalcy

Hyderabad Central University (HCU) in-charge Vice Chancellor Vipin Srivastava issued a fresh appeal today urging the students, agitating over the suicide of dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula, help restore normalcy on the campus.
In an appeal put up on the varsity website Srivastava said the University activities have come to a standstill due to continued blockade of academic and administrative facilities because of the agitation.
This will lead to a delay in the completion of courses affecting the employment and higher education prospects of the students, he said.
"Besides, disbursement of fellowships, scholarships and salaries (especially class IV and contract employees) is getting delayed inordinately," he said in the appeal.

He mentioned the HCU administration has taken two steps within its "realm" - withdrawal of punishment given to the students and an ex-gratia of Rs 8 lakh to the Vemula's family.
Vemula and four other students, all from the dalit community, were suspended last year by the varsity for allegedly attacking an ABVP leader.

HCU has already revoked suspension of the four students, following uproar over Vemula's suicide on January 17.
"The University reiterates its appeal to the students and requests the parents and public to bear with us while we make earnest efforts to restore the normalcy at the earliest," the interim V-C further said.

Srivastava said he and the HCU fraternity deeply condole the "tragic and untimely" death of Rohith Vemula.
Srivastava had yesterday appealed to the students to withdraw their hunger strike, saying the deadlock could be resolved only through dialogue and that the administration should be allowed to function.