UoH Administration, MHRD And BJP Complicit In The Death Of Rohith Vemula

By Academics for Democracy

20 January, 2016
Countercurrents.org

We the members of academics for democracy are devastated by the passing away of Rohith Vemula whose decision to take his own life is a direct consequence of the despicable act of Hyderabad university to socially boycott 5 Dalit Research scholars by succumbing to the uncalled intervention of MHRD because of political pressure by BJP.

Details of the whole affair as investigated by joint action committee for social justice, University of Hyderabad chapter make it clear that despite the initial investigation by the proctorial board which could not find any evidence of any wrong doing by the members of Ambedkar Student Association (5 scholars were members of ASA), UoH constituted a new inquiry by forming a so called sub-committee which violated it's own constitution to prosecute the students. This was done under pressure after a letter from Smriti Irani to the vice chancellor asking for an explaination. The letter from the BJP MP from Secunderabad and Minister for Labour and Employment, Bandaru Dattatreya to Smriti Irani exhorting action from MHRD only smacks of uncalled and highly repressive political interference in university spaces. The whole affair is remarkably similar to the APSC affair at IIT Chennai.

There were several serious lapses in the whole inquiry:-

1) Charges about protesting against capital punishment of Yakub Menon (which is by no means an illegal act) were brought in.

2) Defendants were not given a chance to present their case

3) Witness testimonies were selectively used.

These lapses give a clear indication of discrimination against the members of Ambedkar Students association. The university further paid no attention to the strike staged by the suspended students and the Vice Chancellor of university had refused to even talk to the protesting students (inspite of Rohith asking the VC to give them poison instead of humiliating them like this just a week ago). Rohith's brave yet devastating decision to take his own life is a direct result of the false prosecution of the 5 scholars by university administration. Hence we believe that the administration, MHRD and by extension BJP (who seem to be taking special interest in any student groups whose ideas do not support the ruling Hindutva ideology) are directly complicit in the death of Rohith. In strongest possible terms, we condemn this act of UoH and believe it has maligned itself as a public university. We would like to further express our anguish at the continued tradition of labeling any dissenting voice and opinions as anti national and using this to suppress these opinions and expressions of dissent through political channels

We also express solidarity with the ongoing struggle of Ambedkar Students Association and would like to express our condolence to family, friends and students struggling against discrimination in Hyderabad Central University."

Alok Laddha, V. S. Sunder, R Mannivannan, Padma Venkataram, Nityanand Jayaram, Gita Jayaraj, Abdul Rahiman P K and Bernard Sami on Behalf of Academics for Democracy