Denied entry inside HCU, Rohith Vemula's mother begins sit-in-protest

Rohith Vemula's mother Radhika has begun a sit-in-protest outside Hyderabad Central University campus gate.  The mother of deceased Dalit scholar Rohit Vemula tonight went on a sit-in protest in front of the main entrance of Hyderabad Central University after she was denied entry inside the campus to meet students who were injured in a police lathicharge yesterday.

Radhika Vemula wanted to hold a demonstration inside, but was prevented from entering the HCU campus, HCU Chief Security Officer TV Rao told PTI. "She wanted to hold a dharna inside the campus. We stopped her from entering. She and around 20 students then sat on a dharna in front of the HCU gate," Rao said. Raja Vemula, the younger brother of Rohit, said his mother wanted to meet the students who were injured yesterday in a police lathicharge. "They did not allow her to enter the HCU campus, hence she sat on a dharna," Raja said.

Earlier in the day she and her younger son met with Kumar

The Hyderabad Central University authorities on Wednesday prevented JNU student leader Kanhaiya Kumar from entering the campus to address the students agitating over the suicide of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula. Kanhaiya, who came with Rohith's mother and brother to express solidarity with the students, was greeted with slogans for and against him at the gate. "I came from JNU to HCU to support Rohith Vemula's cause.
....we will have to fulfil Rohith Vemula's dreams. And social justice has to be brought in the country. This Government is not listening to the voice of the students," he said.

The University authorities, in the morning, issued a notification banning entry of outsiders including political parties, media and other social/student groups. They also suspended classes for four days. Kanhaiya, speaking outside the campus, called it "shameful". "I blame university authorities and police. This fight is to save democracy and Constitution. We will not tolerate attack on democracy. We want freedom from casteism and untouchability. We would not have disturbed the peace on the campus had we been allowed," he said.

Police had kept strict security at the main gate preventing non-students from entering. There were heated arguments between police and CPI leaders who accompanied Kumar as police did not allow them in. Earlier in the day, police arrested 25 students and two faculty members for allegedly ransacking the residence of Vice Chancellor Appa Rao Podile yesterday and pelting stones. Kanhaiya, after landing in the city, blamed the government for blowing up the issue at JNU (of `anti-national' slogans) only to divert attention from Rohith's suicide and its aftermath.

With agency inputs.