UoH Suicide: Rahul Slams Dattatreya, Irani, VC

AICC Vice-President Rahul Gandhi today said that Union Ministers Bandaru Dattatreya and Smriti Irani, and University of Hyderabad (UoH / HCU) Vice-Chancellor Appa Rao Podile were responsible for the suicide of dalit student Rohith Vemula.

Gandhi also demanded that the Centre extend ex-gratia to the bereaved family.

Gandhi visited the UoH on Tuesday and sought details from the students on the suicide of Vemula. He also paid tributes to the portrait and memorial statue of Vemula, and met and consoled Vemula's parents.

Gandhi came to the University along with AICC general secretary in-charge of Telangana affairs Digvijay Singh and other State Congress leaders. TPCC chief Uttam Kumar Reddy too accompanied Gandhi. He was welcomed by the students with loud slogans, who cheered on even when he spoke later. Gandhi sat on the ground and enquired of the four other suspended students all the issues leading to the suicide of Vemula. He listened patiently and also asked for several clarifications.

Speaking later, Gandhi said that the discrimination in universities against some sections of students was not proper. Universities needed to spread knowledge, and the students had the right and freedom to express their feelings, he said.

"There should be no suppression of the voices of students in any universities," Gandhi proclaimed. He said that the death of Vemula was painful, and asked HCU Vice-Chancellor Podile whether he had no moral responsibility and time to console the bereaved family's members.

Claiming that he did not come to Hyderabad to politicize the issue, Gandhi still lashed out at the Union Human Resources Minister Smriti Irani alleging that she had mishandled Vemula's case, as had the VC.

Earlier, ABVP students tried to obstruct Gandhi, who reached the city in a special flight, when he was proceeding towards HCU from the Begumpet airport. The police detained the students.

Party leaders K Jana Reddy, Shabbir Ali, Danam Nagender and others welcomed Gandhi at the Begumpet airport.