Committee for Rohith shifts venue for tomorrow’s meeting

Hyderabad, Aug 28 (PTI) The Struggle and SolidarityCommittee for Justice for deceased Dalit research scholarRohith Vemula will hold its meeting at Gandhi Bhavan heretomorrow after Telangana police denied them permission tostage a ‘maha dharna’ at Indira Park. Demanding arrest of those responsible for the death ofRohith, the University of Hyderabad (UoH) research scholar whoallegedly committed suicide on the university campus inJanuary, the committee had earlier planned to stage ademonstration at Indira Park. However, Telangana police denied them permission forthe event, the committee said today. "The committee has shifted the venue for tomorrow’smeeting to Gandhi Bhavan," it said. Dalit icon BR Ambedkar’s grandson Prakash, Rohith’smother Radhika Vemula and activist Teesta Setalvad arescheduled to address the meeting. It maybe recalled that UoH Vice Chancellor Podile AppaRao and others were booked under the SC/ST (Prevention ofAtrocities) Act and for abetment of Rohith’s suicide. Thecommittee has been demanding their arrest. "The attitude of Telangana police in delaying thearrest as well as denying permission to the committee showsthat they are siding with the killers of Rohith," thecommittee claimed in a release. Rohith’s death on January 17 had sparked massivenationwide protests, resulting in a fierce slugfest with astring of political parties and Dalit organisations sidingwith the students and accusing the BJP government and theuniversity administration of being "anti-Dalit". UoH has been witnessing sporadic protests sinceRohith’s death with students demanding removal of Appa Raofrom the post of VC. PTI VVK NSK RCPTP