University of Hyderabad JAC speaks out against Raju Kumar Sahu

                                       

JAC members provided data that 230 students from different streams got placement in different companies this year.

Responding to the allegations made by Raju Kumar Sahu, general secretary of the Students Union (SU) of the University of Hyderabad (UoH), the students Joint Action Committee (JAC) demanded his resignation and threatened to get him impeached from his post if he failed to do so.

‘Opposed AC meeting’

“Raju, who was a member of the Students Federation of India (SFI), backstabbed the JAC and lied about the string of incidents that unfolded in the campus after Rohith Vemula committed suicide in January,” said the JAC. Addressing a press conference here on Friday, Venkatesh Chauhan, vice-president, SU, stated that Raju had opposed the Academic Council meeting along with them on April 6.

“On April 12, the SU held the university general body meeting (UGBM) and passed five resolutions, one of which was the removal of Prof. Appa Rao from the Vice-Chancellor’s (V-C) post,” said Arpita, a research scholar and JAC member. She refuted his allegations that the JAC is funded by the Congress and Left parties, and said that they were supported financially by students and faculty members in UoH.

Higher placements

About Raju’s allegations that placements in the campus were affected due to the JAC’s agitation demanding the V-C to resign, the JAC members provided data showing that 230 UoH students from different streams got placement in different companies this year. The number is higher than last year when 190 students were offered jobs.

Even in Raju’s MCA Department, the placements are higher at 27 this year, as compared to 20 last year. “Raju is a pawn in the hands of the ABVP and the BJP. We have an electoral understanding with the MCA Department, from where three of our previous candidates have contested for his post. After Rohith’s suicide, Raju injured his leg and he did not participate in anything for two months,” said Sanjay J. from SFI.

To impeach Raju, half of the students’ council members will have to propose it, and it has to be ratified by students in the university general body meeting, said Sanjay. According to rules, a UGBM can be held if one-third of students attend it.

“They can try to impeach me if they want to. I am not stepping down from my post,” said Raju.

Confronted about his unsubstantiated allegations about placements, Raju replied that students from his department were not being paid well. “I cannot reveal the name of the company,” he said, when asked which company was paying less, as the university administration said that pay packages this year ranged between Rs. 3 lakh to Rs. 36 lakh per annum.

They can try to impeach me if they want to. I am not stepping down from my post.

Raju Kumar Sahugeneral secretary, Students Union