One of the four students from the University of Hyderabad (UoH) who was expelled for a few months along with Rohith Vemula, refused to take his PhD from varsity Vice-Chancellor Appa Rao in a mark of protest.

The student, V Sunkanna, declined to accept his doctorate during the 18th Convocation of the university.

Speaking to The News Minute, the student Sunkanna said, "I hadn't planned it in advance because I thought that a chief guest would be giving out the degrees. However, when I went to the function and saw that Appa Rao was giving them out, I decided not to take it from him."

In the wake of Vemula’s suicide, the VC had been on forced leave in January this year and had also been booked under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocity) Act.

However, he resumed charge in March, leaving many protesting students infuriated.

Sunkanna went on the dais and refused to accept his degree in front of all the attendees of the ceremony.

"When I went on the stage, I told him that I was willing to receive it from anybody, but him. He tried to convince me to take it and said that we would discuss that later, but I refused," Sunkanna adds.

After a short confrontation on stage, the VC agreed to Sunkanna's demand and Pro-VC Vipin Srivasthava awarded Sunkanna the doctorate.

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