End discrimination, initiate action in Dalit scholar's suicide: Owaisi to PM

AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take action in the suicide of the Dalit scholar of Hyderabad University and demanded that the government must end discrimination towards the 'weaker sections' of the society.

"The Vice Chancellor needs to be removed immediately as he is not worthy of his post. Because of him, a student lost his life. Hope the government removes the VC and he is arrested by the Cyberabad Police. We demand the Prime Minister to rescue the students as this is an issue that pertains to the future of our country," Owaisi told the media here.

Hitting out at Minister of State for Labour and Employment Bandaru Dattatreya, who has been charged with abetting the suicide of the Dalit scholar, Owaisi questioned his interference into the University's affair and demanded to know as to why he wrote a letter demanding the student's expulsion.

"The Prime Minister had promised of good days in the country which is why we hope that he takes note of the situation and removes his minister. Today it was Rohith, tomorrow it can be anyone. The government needs to end the discrimination towards the weaker sections of the society," he added.

Meanwhile, a nationwide outrage by the students was witnessed against the suicide of a Dalit scholar with the University of Hyderabad turning into a battlefield as they continued with their protests.

The students demanded action against Vice-Chancellor Appa Rao, Minister of State for Labour and Employment Bandaru Dattatreya and ABVP leader Sushil Kumar.

They raised slogans denouncing the VC and carried placards with messages such as 'Appa Rao murdabad', 'Rohith Vemula amar rahe' and 'Sushil Kumar hai hai'.

The agitators also demanded a compensation of Rs. 50 lakh for Vemula's family.

Earlier today, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi interacted with the protesting students of the University of Hyderabad and said that the varsity had used to its power to 'crush' the students instead of allowing them to express themselves.

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Dattatreya has been charged with abetting the suicide of the Dalit scholar.

He has also been booked under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act following allegations that he orchestrated the suspension of Rohith Vermula and four other Dalit students from the University hostel.

The police has also registered a case for abetment of suicide against University of Hyderabad Vice Chancellor Appa Rao and two ABVP leaders Sushil Kumar and Vishnu.

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Earlier this month, the five students were thrown out of the hostel amid allegations they were denied access to campus facilities, except their classrooms and respective workshops, on recommendation by an executive committee of the university.

The 28-year-old hailing from Andhra Pradesh's Guntur district was found hanging at a friend's hostel room around 7: 30 p.m. on Sunday.