JNU Students delegation meets NHRC over crackdown in HCU

A delegation of JNU students today met officials at NHRC here today over the alleged crackdown and arrest of students in Hyderadabad Central University and demanded concrete action against its VC Appa Rao in connection with the Rohith Vemula issue.
27 people including 25 students and two faculty members of the varsity were arrested on March 23 in connection with the recent violence on the campus. However, they were today granted bail by a local court.
The delegation which met National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Registrar CK Chaturvedi submitted a compilation of testimonials of HCU students regarding the "inhuman treatment" meted out to them on March 22 and demanded that Rao be removed from the post of VC.

"We compiled the testimonials of HCU students who were on the receiving end of the crackdown, in a CD, and submitted it to the NHRC. We have especially pointed out the case of a student Uday Bhanu who was physically assaulted. That is the case of human rights violation," JNUSU Vice President Shehla Rashid Shora said.
"We hope NHRC takes this case seriously and does something something concrete about it," she added.
Many students from different universities including JNU, DU and Jamia Milia Islamia had gathered in front of NHRC building to express solidarity with the students of HCU.

Carrying placards and raising slogans, the students demanded the removal of Rao and HRD Minister Smriti Irani from their respective posts as well as the enactment of 'Rohith Act' against caste discrimination in educational institutions.

Celebrations broke out among the protestors as the news about the release of HCU students on bail broke out and the students hailed the release as "the victory of our struggle".
The NHRC had, on March 25, issued notices to the top Union HRD and Telangana government officials over action against the students and is now awaiting for their reports.
Chaturvedi reportedly assured the delegation of "proper action" once the report from Andhra Pradesh Human Rights Commission is received.
Rashid said that during the meeting the students
representatives were repeatedly warned about the "future consequences of them for raising their voices against the government".

"Time and again during the meeting they talked about the implications and consequences of our raising voices against them on our future. They told us we are 'innocent' students and did not know what is good and bad for us," said Rashid.
"Yes we are innocent but not in naive sense. We are doing this with high sense of responsibility to save the country and we are also well aware of its implication," she added.
While the students in JNU observed a strike in response to nation-wide university strike call by Joint Action Committee (JAC) for Social Justice - Delhi chapter, which was formed to fight for justice for Rohith Vemula in coordination with the HCU students, there is also a plan to march from Mandi House to Jantar Mantar on March 30.

"We demand immediate legal action against the police officers, who abused, manhandled and beat up the students and faculty; immediate withdrawal of police from the campus and release of all arrested students and faculty.
"Independent enquiry into the incidents of violence and the role of the ABVP in entire episode and removal of Podile Appa Rao as the Vice Chancellor," JAC said in a statement.
JNU students have been agitating in the national capital in connection with the suicide of Dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula who was found hanging at the Hyderabad Central University's hostel room on January 17.