Dalit scholar suicide: Agitators call for 'Chalo HCU' protest

An indefinite fast launched by a fresh batch seven students over suicide of Dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula continued in the Hyderabad Central University in Hyderabad for the second day even as agitators called for a 'Chalo HCU' protest march to press their demands.

The stir resumed on Sunday after the previous group of seven fasting students were shifted to the hospital on Saturday following deterioration in their health condition after three days of hunger strike.

A health check will be conducted for the fasting students on Monday, Dr Ravindra Kumar, a senior doctor at the health centre in the university said.

The agitating students have called for a 'Chalo HCU' on Monday and students from different universities in the country would gather in the campus in Hyderabad, their representative L S Biakani said.

The main demands includes removal of Vice Chancellor P Appa Rao, who has gone on indefinite leave, and passing a "Rohith Act" to prevent suicides of scheduled tribes, scheduled castes, backward castes and minority students in universities, he said.

Meanwhile, Rohith's mother Radhika was admitted to a private hospital on Sunday after she complained of chest pain, Ravindra Kumar said.

She has been kept under observation in the ICU.

On Sunday, the university put a notice on its website saying the vice-chancellor will be on leave and that Vipin Srivastava, the senior most professor, shall perform the duties of the vice-chancellor. It did not mention the period of leave.

However, the SC/ST Faculty Forum and SC/ST Officers Forum expressed "shock" over the decision to appoint Srivastava as officiating vice-chancellor and alleged that he headed the executive council sub-committee "which has been responsible for the death of Rohith" and was one of the "accused" in the suicide of another Dalit student, Senthil, in 2008.