The Hyderabad Central University administration on Friday issued show cause notices to three students including the Students Union President for allegedly painting pictures of Dr BR Ambedker, Bhagat Singh and Karl Marx on several walls, violating the university’s rules.
HCU Students Union President Kuldeep Singh Nagi, SFI leader Sai Yamarti, and another student leader Aditya Veligatla were served show cause notices at the shopping complex, in front of other students on Friday evening.
The notice says that the student leaders were involved in painting the walls and culverts, bus shelters and other spaces on campus with images of Ambedker, Bhagat Singh and Karl Marx on July 14.
It also states that the three students led protests in front of the CIS building, where they allegedly raised slogans and shouted at a security officer, which amounts to misconduct and indiscipline.
Speaking to TNM, Students Union President Kuldeep Singh Nagi said, "With this I have received my 4th show cause notice , the administration wants to threaten the students by silencing me."
He added, "The ultimate intention of serving notices barely in a public place is just to intimidate students, make sure they do not protest. If we are not allowed to question, what is the idea of a university?"
Kuldeep also argued that the university cannot decide the site of the protest. Terming the issuing of notices as a “selective way of executing rules and regulations, the HCU Student Union President pointed out that ABVP members has openly scolded the chief warden and others.
Sai Yamarti, the SFI student leader also wondered why the university chosen to single out their activities.
"Why this is not the same case with other groups who are doing all sorts of religious ceremonies and erecting structures in the name of patriotism? Why weren't they given notices?" asked Sai.
He noted, "This is nothing but an aim to quell campus democracy and target progressive , secular organisations over a period".
Many students have come out in support, stating that protesting for social justice and fair causes are part of the spirit of democracy, and it is their right to "carry forward" the protest.
The university has sought a written deposition with regard to alleged "indiscipline" action
When TNM contacted ABVP president Uday Inala, he said, "We haven't received any show cause notice as of now with regard to the erection of Vijay Divas/Kargil memorial."
However, Chief Security Officer TV Rao told TNM, "University rules does not allow defacing the walls , erection of any structures on campus."
Justifying why the university chose to erase the paintings, he said, "We have done that to protect the dignity of those figures, they were painted on bad places."
He also hinted that at the complete removal of "unauthorized" structures on campus such as the Kargil memorial and the Rohith Vemula bust.