UoH students' fast on election issue enters third day

A relay hunger strike launched by a group of students on the issue of the election of Students' Union vice-president on the campus of the University of Hyderabad (UoH) entered third day today.
The varsity yesterday requested a retired High Court judge to "examine and advise" the administration on the election issue after the students refused to withdraw their protest.
However, the students today threatened to launch indefinite hunger strike from Monday if their demand is not accepted.
A group of students under the aegis of the Tribal Students' Forum (TSF) began fast on Tuesday demanding that Naresh Lunavath, a nominee of the Alliance of Social Justice, of which TSF is an ally, be declared elected as vice-president of the Students Union.

The Students Union elections 2017-18 was held on September 21.
However, the varsity has withheld the result of the election to the post of the vice-president following allegations that Lunavath had less than 75 per cent attendance as required by norms.

However, protesting students have claimed Lunavath had actually won against his ABVP (Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad) opponent, but a complaint was given alleging that he lacked requisite attendance.
A section of students has been holding protests for the last few days demanding Lunavath be declared elected as the vice president.
The UoH had said the Registrar and Security Officer yesterday made an effort to persuade the agitating students to allow the administration to do a proper exercise to resolve the matter and advised the students to wait for suggestions from the retired judge.

TSF president Sundar Rathod today alleged the varsity administration was skirting their demand on Lunavath's election and wanted them to give up the hunger strike.
"They are just delaying the issue and making false promises," Sundar said when asked about the UoH's move to refer the matter to a retired HC Judge.
"As of now we have decided to continue with the relay fast. From Monday onwards, we will start an indefinite hunger strike if our demand is not met," Sundar told PTI.
The UoH once again appealed to the protesting students to withdraw their stir and wait for the report from the judge, in view of the impending end-semester examinations.

"The retired judge will be handed over all records/documents pertaining to the elections. A committee has been constituted recently to examine the attendance records of the School of Medical Sciences to which Lunavath belongs," the varsity had said.
UoH, also known as the Hyderabad Central University, was rocked by the protests in January 2016 following the suicide on campus by Dalit PH.D scholar Rohith Vemula.