Kanhaiya Kumar in Hyderabad, to visit university

Hyderabad, March 23 (IANS) JNU student leader Kanhaiya Kumar arrived here on Wednesday to visit the Hyderabad Central University to join protests over the suicide of Dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula even as the police cracked down on the campus to bar the entry of outsiders.

Kanhaiya Kumar told reporters on his arrival that he will visit the university in the evening to pay tributes to Rohith Vemula and meet his mother and brother.

"We are fighting for social justice on the campuses and to fulfil the dream of Rohith so that tomorrow no student has to say that his birth as a Dalit is an accident," said Kanhaiya Kumar.

He is also expected to address students demanding justice for Rohith, who committed suicide on January 17 following his suspension along with four other Dalit students over a fracas with a Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) leader.

Kanhaiya Kumar's visit comes at a time when the Hyderabad University is on the boil again.

Students on Tuesday resumed protests after Vice Chancellor P. Appa Rao, who is blamed for the suicide, returned after nearly two months of leave.

The protest turned violent with clashes between protesting students and police. As many as 25 students have been arrested.

As part of the crackdown, police barred the entry of media persons and outsiders into the campus.

Congress MP Hanumanth Rao told reporters at the university main gate that Appa Rao was sent back to provoke the students and foil Kanhaiya Kumar's visit.

Communist Party of India (CPI) leader K. Narayana and others welcomed Kanhaiya Kumar when he reached Hyderabad airport. He drove straight to CR Foundation at Kondapur to attend a programme.

The student leader will reach the campus in the evening. He will be visiting the CPI state headquarters in the evening.

Kanahiya Kumar is scheduled to visit Sundaraiah Vignana Kendram of CPI-M on Thursday to address a gathering before leaving for Vijayawada to attend a programme at a college.