Hyderabad University VC Appa Rao resumes office

Hyderabad: University of Hyderabad Vice-Chancellor P. Appa Rao, who went on leave after being in the eye of the storm following the suicide of Dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula, resumed his office on Tuesday.

Rao will also address a press conference today around 11:30 am.

M.Periasamy had taken over Rao’s responsibilities in his absence, after interim VC Dr Vipin Srivastava went on leave just hours before Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi reached the university.

Rao was under fire for his handling of the suspension of the five Dalit students, one of whom, Rohith Vemula, committed suicide on January 17.

Demanding the Vice Chancellor’s resignation, the students had vehemently protested demanding his resignation.

26-year-old Rohith Vemula who hanged himself in Hyderabad Central University campus in January, was suspended from his hostel in August last year for allegedly attacking an ABVP leader.

Rao had said earlier that he is going on leave to facilitate talks with the protesting students. (ANI)