With outsider entry still restricted in the University of Hyderabad (UoH) campus, people invited in connection with the first death anniversary of Rohith Vemula on Tuesday might have to stand outside the gates, as done last year as well.
Among those who have been invited to speak on Tuesday in UoH are Rohith’s mother Radhika Vemula, Jaan Mohammed Saifi, brother of Mohammad Akhlaq who was allegedly lynched by a mob on suspicion of storing beef at home, Fatima Nafees, mother of missing Jawaharlal Nehru University student Najeeb and Piyush Sarvaiya who was among those who were flogged in Una (Gujarat) for skinning a dead cow.
In a press release on Monday, the UoH authorities stated that the varsity has not issued any permission to the students’ Joint Action Committee (JAC) to conduct any activities. “The University cannot provide a platform for outsiders to participate in the activities called by insiders or outsiders when there is no permission for the same,” it added.
It may be recalled that after Rohith’s suicide on January 17, 2016, the UoH authorities banned the entry of outsiders into the campus following continuous protests. Journalists and other media persons who were covering the protests were also barred. Prof. Vipin Srivastava, Pro Vice-Chancellor, said that permission for outsider entry was given only for academic activities.
“So far, no one approached us for any permission. Whatever they try to do, will not be authorised,” he told The Hindu . Ambedkar Students Association (ASA) member Dontha Prashanth, who was one of the five students suspended along with Rohith last year, said that outsiders were being let in without any hitch for programmes conducted by the ABVP. The Pro V-C, however, denied it.
The UoH authorities said that security in the campus will be beefed up in view of the programmes that might be conducted. When asked if the police had been contacted, Prof. Srivastava said “If it becomes a law and order issue, then the police will be contacted.”
Last year, after outsiders were barred from coming in, most of those who were invited by the JAC conducted meetings outside the gate itself. The same is expected to happen on Tuesday as well by the students.
