I will talk to PM on VC row; police excesses to be probed: KCR

Hyderabad, March 26 (NSS): Expressing concern over discrimination against Dalits, circumstances that led to HCU scholar Rohith Vemula’s suicide and police “excesses” on the HCU campus by arresting 28 persons, including students and professors in the wake of Vice Chancellor P. Appa Rao’s return, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao today assured the Assembly that he would take up the issues personally with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the mood of the House that almost unanimously felt that Vice Chancellor Appa Rao’s return to the HCU led to the arrests and chaos on the campus on March 23.

The Leader of the House asserted that he would talk to the Prime Minister and his Government on the demand of recalling the VC and hoped that the Centre would reciprocate in two or three days. Besides, a high-level inquiry would be ordered into the alleged police excesses on the students and a few faculty members, KCR stated. He made repeated assurances at a time when the Opposition members of the Congress, BJP, MIM, YSRCP and Left parties targeted the government for its “inaction” over the incidents.

The Chief Minister said his government will take every step to prevent recurrence of such incidents and ensure peace in the universities. KCR took pains to successfully convince the irritated Opposition members on their persistent demands to recall the VC and serious action against the police, who beat up the students black and blue and put them to much harassment.

KCR admitted that he did not pay a visit to the HCU campus as AICC leader Rahul Gandhi, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejrival, Union ministers and other political leaders made a beeline to the violence-hit university. The Leader of the House thoughtfully pacified the Opposition which in unison cornered over the ruling party during a debate on Rohit suicide and arrests made when JNU student leader Kanhaiya Kumar came to campus to extend support to Rohit’s mother Radhika and students.

The DGP and Hyderabad and Cyberabad police commissioners were asked to pave way for JNU student leader Kanhaiya Kumar to speak at Sundaraiah Vignan Kendra, he said, adding that the HCU security men in police uniforms added to the confusion. Stating that the police often become target by all sections, KCR said it is their bounden duty to prevent violence and maintain law and order if anyone pounce upon and kill VC, he said. He also said recruitment of VCs to the State universities will be taken up soon. (NSS)