Rohith suicide: 10 Hyderabad university professors resign

January 21, 2016 08:53

Ten University of Hyderabad professors belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes on Thursday morning resigned from all administrative posts in solidarity with students protesting the suspension of five students, one of whom -- Rohith Vemula -- committed suicide last Sunday.

Rohith, a PhD scholar, was among the five research scholars who were suspended by the University in August last year over an alleged assault case. They were also kept out of the hostel.

The University of Hyderabad SC/ST Teachers and Officers Forum had on Wednesday condemned remarks made by HRD Minister Smriti Irani at a press conference in New Delhi and alleged she had "misrepresented" facts and "misled the nation".

HRD Minister Smriti Irani on Wednesday launched a counter offensive accusing rivals of instigating students across the country on caste lines even as political leaders made a bee line to Hyderabad University.

Claiming that an attempt was being made to project the issue as Dalit versus non-Dalit confrontation, she also dismissed the demand for her resignation.

Vice Chancellor Appa Rao Podile criticised attempts to "politicise" the issue, trashed talks about his being a "BJP man" and refused to step down owing to mounting protests.

Rao also said disciplinary action against Rohith Vemula and four other dalit students was not taken under any pressure from the HRD Ministry or Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment Bandaru Dattatreya.

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