Student suicide: Issue politicised; am not BJP man, says VC

In the eye of a raging storm over suicide by a dalit research scholar, Hyderabad Central University (HCU) Vice Chancellor Appa Rao Podile today criticised attempts to "politicise" the issue and trashed talks about his being a "BJP man".
Rao also said disciplinary action against Rohith Vemula and four other dalit students was not taken under any pressure from the HRD Ministry or Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment Bandaru Dattatreya.
Podile also refused to step down owing to mounting protests.
"Unfortunately it has turned into a political game. Every politician is visiting the campus. I don't know why they are politicising the campus which is known for its academic activities and research. I am really disappointed and disturbed," the VC told PTI.

Describing Rohith's suicide as an unfortunate incident, he said the university followed certain regulations and procedures based on the recommendations made by statutory body (executive council). The university operated on a standard disciplinary mechanism while taking action against them.
He also sought to distance the HRD Ministry and Union ministers Smriti Irani and Bandaru Dattatreya from the decisions taken by the University which allegedly forced Rohith Vemula to commit suicide.

"There was no pressure. We took the letters received as routine letters," he said, adding "there was no phone call from either of the ministers or any ministry official".
The HRD ministry had written as many as five letters to Hyderabad University on Labour Minister Bandaru Dattareya's complaint regarding "anti national activities" on the campus and the "violent attack" on the ABVP leader Susheel Kumar. The Ministry has maintained it was standard procedure on such "VIP references".

He said initially these students were suspended for six months but the punishment was reduced as it would have adversely affected their getting scholarship.
"So, there was hostel expulsion of these students to help them because they hail from marginalised sections."
The matter reached the Hyderabad High Court the mother of the ABVP leader, who was allegedly assaulted by Rohith and four others, approached it. The High Court had sought an action taken report from the university, he said.
"During all this, unexpectedly this boy committed suicide. There is no mention of this punishment in the suicide note," he said.

On allegations about his being a "BJP man", Rao said: "I cannot agree to any such branding either by students or politicians or anybody else. I am not any party person. I have been appointed through a due selection process.
"I am not affiliated to any party. First they want to brand me as a BJP person because I was appointed by NDA government. It is only a coincidence that the VC's selection happened during NDA tenure," he said.
He also rejected the students' demand for his resignation.
"There is no intervention whatsoever from the Ministry
of HRD or Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya in this particular incident. Though there was a letter but that letter never influenced the collective decision-making process of the university. There was no pressure from the two ministers or anyone else," Rao said.

On why he is being targeted, he said, "To me it appears that they are trying to paint a colour to start with and bring out some agenda...And it may be those who are behind the agitation by students. It could be a political agenda. I ask the students, show one evidence to prove that I am a BJP and a RSS man. They never had anything but kept on repeatedly telling that."
As for the students' demand for his resignation, he said he was selected through a long process and has started delivering. "I have a long-term plan for the university," he said.

"For (taking) disciplinary action, if the VC is removed, I do not know how the university will function. If I have done anything wrong, the court of law will decide. A large number of people say we want you (to remain in office) and you should not resign. (They say) even if there is pressure don't concede to such pressure," he said.
"Personally, I believe I have not violated any of the rules of the university and I do not see why should I concede the demand of students who are aggrieved now," he said.