TL-VARSITY-VEMULA

University of Hyderabad gives nod to pay tribute to scholar

Hyderabad, Jan 15 (PTI): The University of Hyderabad

Tuesday said it would allow students and 'invited speakers' to

pay tribute to the bust of scholar Rohith Vemula, who

committed suicide on January 17, 2016, on the campus and hold

'planned' meetings at the auditorium of the varsity.

Some sections of students of the university and

outfits under the 'Rohith Vemula Struggle and Solidarity

Committee' banner had given a call for 'Chalo HCU' for January

17 against the alleged 'destruction' of portraits of Dr B R

Ambedkar, Jyotiba Phule and other Dalit leaders.

On the call given by the students to observe January

17 as a special event to remember Rohith Vemula, the

university, in a statement posted on its website, said it

would like to clarify that while its students and invited

speakers would be welcome to pay tribute to Vemula's bust at

the North Shopping Complex area, the planned meeting could be

held in the Savitribai Phule auditorium.

Denying any destruction of portraits at the

North Shopping Complex on the campus, the university said the

institution holds Dr B R Ambedkar, Mahatma Phule, Savitribai

Phule, and other leaders in high esteem.

The auditoriums on the campus have been named

after these leaders, and there are academic programmes in the

university to promote their philosophy and thought, the

varsity said in the statement.

The authorities said the portraits which were

part of fresh flexi material being set up by a section of

students in violation of university regulations were relocated

for safekeeping, the statement added.

The suicide of Vemula, a PhD scholar, on the

campus had sparked nationwide protests and opposition parties

had blamed groups affiliated to the BJP and the RSS for his

death.

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