Close to 300 students from the University of Hyderabad (UoH) are expected to take part in the 'Delhi Chalo' programme as part of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of students protesting against UoH research scholar Rohith Vemula’s suicide. The four other students who were suspended with Rohith are expected to participate.
Speaking to media persons on the sidelines of a discussion on ‘Democratic campuses for education’ organised by the Karnataka Vidhyarthi Sanghatane here on Wednesday, Srikanth K., member of the Ambedkar Student Association in UoH, said the aim of the February 23 programme was to draw the attention of the Parliament towards Vemula’s case.
“The university has turned into a police camp,” Mr. Shreekanth, a PhD scholar in English, who is from Shivamogga in Karnataka said, adding that though the suspension of the other four scholars had been revoked through a circular, they are yet to get back their hostel rooms.
Recalling how their protest got attention only after Rohith’s death, Mr. Shreekanth said that many more students had joined in after the incident. But he urged the students gathered at the discussion to not use “Rohith’s suicide as an example.”
“His letter should be the icon. Write letters and express yourselves,” he said.
