Dalit activists protest outside Hisar secretariat

Activists of various dalit organisations today held a demonstration before the mini secretariat here to condemn the death of Dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula in Hyderabad.
The agitators raised slogans against the Centre and Andhra Pradesh government and later burnt the effigies of Union Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya, an accused in the case.
The activists demanded removal of Hyderabad Central University Vice-Chancellor P Appa Rao as well as Union ministers Bandaru Dattatreya and Smriti Irani.
They also demanded for registering FIR against the VC and Dattatreya for their alleged role in abetting the suicide of the Dalit scholar.
Members of Dalit Vidhi Chetna Manch, Dr Ambedkar Student Front of India, Gur Ravidass Chetna Manch, Dr Ambedkar Sabha, Dhanak Maha Sabha, Valmiki Jagriti Manch, Hisar Aluminium Association, Lakshay and other organizations took part in the demonstration.

V Rohith, a Dalit PhD scholar, was found hanging at the Hyderabad Central University's hostel room on January 17, triggering protests from fellow students as well as other educational institutes in various parts of the country.
The issue took a political turn with allegations that the extreme action by Rohith was a result of discrimination against dalit students at the behest of Union Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya, who had written a letter to HRD Minister Smriti Irani, seeking action against their "anti-national acts".