BJP playing 'anti-Dalit' politics over 'institutional murder' of Rohith Vemula: CPI (M)

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Saturday said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA Government at the Centre and the BJP are playing and practicing'anti-Dalit' politics over the suicide of Dalit student Rohith Vemula.

"Today, would have been 27th birthday of Rohith Vemula. His tragic suicide or institutional murder was a direct result of the intervention by important central ministers in the Modi cabinet, who took a stance and put pressure against young Dalit student. If there is any politics being played out in Hyderabad, it is the anti Dalit politics of the Modi government and his ministers," CPI (M) leader Brinda Karat told ANI.

Meanwhile, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi is on a day-long hunger strike along with the other protesting students at the Hyderabad Central University.

Rahul, who arrived here at 12.10 a.m., also participated in a candle light march by 2000 students to mark Rohith's birth anniversary last night.

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This is the Congress vice-president's second visit to Hyderabad since the Dalit scholar's suicide as he had visited the university on January 19 and met agitating students and Rohith's family members.