UoH Suicide: Local Congress, CPI Slam Ministers

Alleging that Union ministers Bandaru Dattatreya and Smriti Irani were solely responsible for the suicide of Dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula of the University Of Hyderabad (Hyderabad Central University), the Telangana Congress and the CPI demanded that the government order a comprehensive inquiry into the circumstances that prompted Vemula to take to extreme step.

The Parties also demanded that the union government immediately sack the two ministers from the Cabinet.

Telangana Congress Chief Uttam Kumar Reddy, APCC Chief N Raghuveera Reddy, former ministers Ponnala Laxmaiah, Dr J Geetha Reddy, C Ramachandraiah and Sailajanath, CPI national secretary Dr K Narayana and others visited the "Agitation Camp" of the UoH students on Saturday.

Speaking on the occasion, the leaders of both the Parties organized a rally on campus demanding that the government initiate action against those whose actions forced Vemula to commit suicide. They also paid tributes at Vemula's portrait and consoled the fasting students.

Dr Narayana faulted the Chief Ministers of the two Telugu States for not consoling Vemula's family. The CPI also announced Rs 1 lakh in assistance to Vemula's family.

The Congress, too, assured that it would extend financial assistance to the bereaved family, and also demand that the Union government offer a job to one of Vemula's family members. It also promised to lodge a complaint with President Pranab Mukherjee on the issue.

The University's teachers also announced donation of a day's salary to Vemula's family.

The leaders said that the Centre's attitude posed a danger to the education sector, and assured the fasting students of their total support.

Later, former Union minister and Congress senior leader S Jaipal Reddy visited the students' agitation camp along with Congress leader T Jeevan Reddy and Justice Sudarshan Reddy. Speaking at the camp, Jaipal Reddy said that Vemula's death was a void, and deplored the way the University was treating students as anti-social elements. He also demanded that the Centre initiate action against University Vice-Chancellor P Appa Rao for his hostile attitude towards the Dalit students.

Jeevan Reddy suggested that the government provide protection to dalit students in universities. He also alleged that the ruling TRS was more interested in elections, and least bothered about the tragic incident which had shaken the conscience of the nation.

Justice Sudarshan Reddy, too, lamented the attitude of the Centre over the death of Vemula, and appealed for protection to the dalits in the university.