Scholar suicide: Delhi students say revoking suspension not enough

New Delhi: Students from various varsities across Delhi who have been protesting over the alleged suicide by a Dalit research scholar in Hyderabad University say the decision to revoke suspension of four other students came "too late" and they will not call off their agitation.

Yielding to intense pressure, the Hyderabad Central University (HCU) today revoked the suspension of four Dalit students against whom action was taken along with another research scholar Rohith Vemula Chakravarthi, who allegedly committed suicide in his hostel room on January 17.

"Can revoking of suspension bring back Rohit's life? Why was this not done earlier when the issue was raised? We will continue with the agitation till our demands are met which include action against the Vice Chancellor and resignation of the two Union ministers," said Shehla Rashid Shora, secretary JNU Students Union, who was in Hyderabad along with a two-member delegation.

DU professor, Abha Dev Habib, said "This hooliganism on campuses has to stop. The government or the university can't do damage control just by revoking the suspension.

We demand that the Vice Chancellor be penalised for this and his accountability should be defined".

"Rohith was institutionally murdered and the HRD ministry played a key role in creating such situation. There has to be a judicial inquiry into the casteist attack on Dalit students by Hyderabad university and the Vice Chancellor needs to be expelled. "We won't call off protests till the demands are met," alleged Aman Nawaz of left-backed All India Students Association (AISA).

The Congress-affiliated National Students Union of India (NSUI), CPI-M's Student Federation of India (SFI), Democratic Student Foundation (DSF), independent groups Krantikari Yuva Sangathan and Bhagat Singh Chhatra Ekta Manch, also said the protests will continue. Earlier in the day, several protests were held by the students in the national capital, following which 20 demonstrators were detained.