The suicide of a Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula in Hyderabad has sparked off massive students' protests across the country. Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on 19 January visited the University of Hyderabad to interact with protesting students.
Gandhi alleged that Rohith was left with no other option but to commit suicide. "Certainly he committed suicide but conditions for his suicide were created by VC, the minister &; this institution," Rahul Gandhi said while addressing the students. "The vice chancellor and the minister in Delhi have not acted fairly-Congress VP Rahul Gandhi on Dalit scholar suicide case," he added.Rahul Gandhi: The institution instead of operating freely usd pwr to crush them, VC & Minister have not acted freely pic.twitter.com/36Nktd7COJ
- ANI (@ANI_news) January 19, 2016
The body of the Dalit research scholar was found hanging in the varsity's hostel room on Sunday, which sparked massive protests in Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and Hyderabad.
Union Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya and Hyderabad University Vice Chancellor were on 18 January named in an FIR over the alleged suicide of the dalit student.
Meanwhile, the students of the University continued their protest in the varsity premises demanding action against Vice-Chancellor Appa Rao, Minister of State for Labour and Employment Bandaru Dattatreya and ABVP leader Susheel Kumar.
The students of the prestigious Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) also began a one-day hunger strike here on Tuesday to express solidarity with their colleagues of the Hyderabad University.
2. Whoever is responsible for this outcome has to be punished in the stricter manner possible.: Rahul Gandhi pic.twitter.com/ESd9fBkw5c
- ANI (@ANI_news) January 19, 2016
Vemula, along with four other Dalit students, were allegedly expelled from hostel following a tussle with students affiliated with the student wing of the BJP, Akhil Bharatiya Vidhyarthi Parishad (ABVP).
(With inputs from ANI)