Will continue struggle for 'Rohith Act': Kanhaiya Kumar

Hyderabad, Mar 23: JNU students' union president Kanhaiya Kumar today said the Joint Action Committee for Social Justice of Hyderabad Central University will continue with its struggle until the Centre brings out 'Rohith Act'.

Kanhaiya, who landed at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport here at around 11 AM, also said that he will participate and address a public meeting organised by the JAC on the HCU campus this evening, "if the police permits".

"Today, I will first meet Rohith Vemula's mother Radhika and his brother Raja. JAC has invited me to address a public meeting on HCU campus...If police allows me then I will definitely go to HCU and address the students," Kanhaiya told reporters at RGIA.

"We have experience with JAC for various struggles and we will take this fight forward...this struggle will continue until 'Rohith Act' is implemented...to fulfil his (Rohith) dreams of social justice on the campus," he said.

Notably, the mother and brother of Dalit research scholar Rohith, who had allegedly committed suicide in a hostel room on the campus on January 17, had last month met political leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, Sitaram Yechuri and KC Tyagi, seeking their support for enactment of a 'Rohith Act' against caste discrimination in educational institutions.

Earlier, the HCU authorities categorically said they would not allow outsiders, including media and political party leaders, on the campus in view of the prevailing situation.

HCU vice-chancellor Appa Rao Podile's official residence was yesterday vandalised by students and police had to lathicharge another group during their protest against him resuming charge after a two-month leave in the wake of suicide by Vemula.

Meanwhile, the police, who made elaborate security arrangements in and around the university, prevented Congress Rajya Sabha member V Hanumantha Rao from entering the campus.

The Congress MP demanded that President Pranab Mukherjee should immediately recall the VC, holding him responsible for the state of affairs on the campus.

Senior CPI leader K Narayana had earlier told PTI that Kanhaiya Kumar will address a meeting at the university this evening and attend a meeting on 'Constitutional Rights' at the Sundarayya Vignana Kendram in Baghligampally here tomorrow, besides visiting Vijayawada.

PTI