Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA)
The DUTA strongly condemns the the police crackdown on students and teachers of Hyderabad Central University and demands the immediate removal of Vice-Chancellor Prof. Appa Rao Podile.
The VC and his team of administrators are yet again responsible for unleashing a series of extremely unfortunate events that have led to a full-blown crisis for the students and teachers in the campus. On 22nd March 2016, the VC, against whom the enquiry on charges of inciting and abetting Rohith Vemula’s suicide are still pending, returned to work and through an apparently pre-planned course of events, allowed the CRPF and RAF to enter the campus and attack agitating students and teachers. The VC’s Machiavellian ploy to fan further unrest among students who have been demanding his removal and justice for Rohith Vemula, is a part of a larger conspiracy to lay siege on the University and crush the democratic movement of its students and teachers. It has resulted in barbaric police violence, hostel raids, the arrest of 25 students and 2 teachers and the administrative decision to shut water supply, messes, electricity and internet in the campus.
The DUTA has also learnt that students who had tried to organise ‘community-kitchens’ were attacked by the police and some of them have been grievously injured. It is shocking and deplorable that aided by the tacit consent of the governments at the Centre and State, the University administration is indulging in a politics of revenge against the bonafide students and teachers.
The DUTA pledges solidarity with the ongoing democratic movement at HCU and condemns the coercive HCU administration. It appeals to the MHRD to immediately respond to the following demands:
1. All students and faculty be released from police custody and
charges against them dropped
2. Restore normalcy in the campus and ensure dialogue with the
students on their demands
3. Remove Prof. Appa Rao from the position of Vice Chancellor
Nandita Narain Sandeep
(DUTA President) (DUTA Secretary)
~~
via Ashwini Shelke
