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Amid tension at the University of Hyderabad, JNU students’ union president Kanhaiya Kumar was denied entry to the campus Wednesday. He was scheduled to address students who are protesting over the suicide of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula.
Kanhaiya, who was accompanied by Vemula’s mother and CPI leaders, addressed a small gathering of students outside the campus gates and vowed to continue his fight till the government enacted the “Rohith Act” to curb atrocities on students.
READ | Hyderabad University on the boil: VC Appa Rao says Kanhaiya can’t enter campus
“I came from JNU to Hyderabad university to address the protesting students here. It is a shame that I have been denied entry to the campus. I just want to say that we will fight till Rohith’s dreams come true and social justice prevails in this country,” he said.
Alleging that the police and university administration had joined hands to prevent him from speaking, the student leader, who is out on bail in a sedition case, expressed solidarity with the protesting students and condemned Tuesday’s police action on students. On Tuesday, students had protested against Vice-Chancellor P Appa Rao, who resumed duty after going on a leave following Vemula’s death.
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“This is a fight to save the Constitution, this is a fight to save democracy, this is a fight against those who are against democracy. We will fight till justice is done in Rohith’s case. We won’t rest till ‘Rohith Act’ is passed to ensure social justice. We have to ensure that social justice prevails in this country,’’ he said before he was driven away.
Initially, police told Kanhaiya that 10 people would be allowed to enter the campus. However, when they reached the university gates, they were told that the university administration had barred entry of outsiders to the campus.
Dozens of ABVP activists also gathered outside the university gates. They protested against Kanhaiya’s visit and chanted “go back, go back” slogan.
Sources said that the TRS-led Telangana government had asked the police not to detain Kanhaiya or prevent him from addressing students. “There is no reason for us to give him so much importance. If Kanhaiya Kumar wants to chant slogans or address students, let him do so,” an official said.
After arriving in the city, Kanhaiya told reporters that the Modi government had stoked the issue of JNU to divert people’s attention from the Rohith Vemula suicide issue. “The government smartly made an issue of JNU to sweep the Rohith Vemula issue under the carpet. But we all know that even if we are different, we are one when it comes to saving justice in the nation,” he said.
On Thursday, he is scheduled to speak at an event, after which he will leave for Vijayawada.
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