There was no pressure from HRD Ministry to punish Rohith Vemula: Hyderabad University new VC

Hyderabad: Professor Vipin Srivastava, who has been appointed as the new in-charge vice-chancellor of Hyderabad University, said on Sunday that the vice-chancellor of Hyderabad University Appa Rao never mentioned about any letter from HRD Ministry on Rohith Vemula's suspension issue.

Talking to Hindustan Times, Shrivasta said that the pressure felt by Rao's committee was that from the Hyderabad High Court as the University of Hyderabad had to submit a report on the action taken, before it on November 25.

Shrivasta was made the in-charge vice-chancellor on Sunday after Appa Rao went on leave amidst the Rohith Vemula suicide row that has taken a political turn. His appointment has been opposed by the agitating students and SC/ST teachers' forum, who has accused him of being involved in a suicide case of a Dalit scholar Senthil Kumar in 2008.

Rohit Vemula, a Dalit scholar, committed suicide in the campus on January 1, after he was suspended from the University for engaging in a clash with a ABVP leader.