November 23, 2024 08:06 (IST)
Follow us:
Rohith Vemula's death : Dalit Professors accuse Smriti Irani of making fabricated statement
Hyderabad, Jan 21 (IBNS) Dalit professors at the Hyderabad University have threatened to quit their administrative posts in protest against Wednesday's statement of education minister Smriti Irani on the events that led to the death of research scholar Rohith Vemula, reports said.
In a statement, the professors accused Irani of making "fabricated statements" and said she had "misrepresented facts" by saying that that a panel which decided on punishment for Rohith and four other Dalit students, included Dalit faculty.
"It is unfortunate that since its inception, no Dalit representation has been given in the executive council of the Hyderabad University," they said, and accused the minister of trying to "mislead the country," and "deflecting the issue to absolve her of responsibility."
Rohith, 26, hanged himself on Sunday, days after he and four other Dalit students were suspended by the university for allegedly assaulting an activist of the BJP's student wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad. Their access to the hostel and cafeteria was barred, though they were allowed in classes and the library.
Massive student protests have been taking place in Hyderabad and in other cities over Rohith's death. The protesters allege that the five Dalit students were subjected to caste discrimination.
They also allege that Irani's ministry pushed for the students to be punished by sending five reminders to the university's Vice Chancellor after another union minister Bandaru Dattatreya wrote to the Education Ministry demanding action against them.
Irani said at a press conference on Wednesday that Rohith Vemula's suicide is being misrepresented with "malicious intent" as "a Dalit vs non-Dalit confrontation."
She also denied that her ministry pushed for the students to be punished. She described the letters that her ministry sent to the university as standard procedure for complaints filed by parliamentarians.
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Latest Headlines
All eyes are on Maharashtra, Jharkhand assembly election results as counting begins shortly Sat, Nov 23 2024
UK-India Free Trade Agreement negotiations to resume in early 2024 Sat, Nov 23 2024
In a rare move, Delhi Lt Guv VK Saxena praises CM Atishi; calls her 'thousand times better' Fri, Nov 22 2024
Centre to send over 10,000 additional soldiers to violence-hit Manipur amid fresh violence Fri, Nov 22 2024
Maharashtra cash-for-vote controversy: Vinod Tawde sends defamation notice to Rahul Gandhi, Kharge Fri, Nov 22 2024
Fishing fishing vessel collides with Indian Naval submarine off Goa coast, 2 fishermen missing Fri, Nov 22 2024
Debate over CM's face in both Mahayuti and MVA camps ahead of Maharashtra poll results Fri, Nov 22 2024