Primary reports suggest Rohith Vemula not a Dalit: Union Minister

Meanwhile, the Joint Action Committee for Social Justice, spearheading the agitation over Rohith’s suicide, said that students would intensify the “struggle” till all their demands are met. Rohith and his family are OBCs.

Earlier, Union ministers Sushma Swaraj and Jual Oram had claimed that Vemula was not a Dalit. “Later, five students, including Rohith, were expelled”, he said.

However, certificates from the Andhra Pradesh revenue department have proved that he belonged to Mala community.

The Times of India has reported that dalit Christians are organizing meetings and planning a rally in New Delhi in March in protest against a Caste Order that allows dalits to receive government benefits, but mainly for those who still identify with their Hindu background. He was living with his father till then.

“So, the question here is why didn’t he get a certificate made before that and why he got a certificate made now?” he alleged. “There will soon be Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh and thus the suicide matter will be heated up for political gains”, an editorial in Sena mouthpiece “Saamana” said here. “Why didn’t those become a big issue?”, asked Gehlot.

The University students have been protesting over research scholar Rohith Vemula’s Suicide demanding removal of the Vice Chancellor and action against those who were responsible for the incident. “And those happened during the UPA’s rule”, he said.

“ABVP (BJP’s students wing) objected to their activities, following which 30-40 boys had roughed up a student”.

The university also revoked the suspension of the four Dalit students and announced a compensation of Rs. 8 lakh to the family of Rohith.

When contacted, SC/ST Faculty Forum convener Sudhakar Babu said they (teachers) are attending classes.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed grief over Rohith’s death and had remarked that “We have lost a son of the soil”, it noted.