Terming the alleged suicide by a Hyderabad Central University student as "obnoxious and simply unacceptable", CPI(M) today asked Union Ministers Smriti Irani and Bandaru Dattatreya to demit offices and sought the dismissal of the varsity's vice chancellor.
"What has happened is obnoxious and simply unacceptable. Criminal action must be taken against all involved in this abetment.
"Both the ministers must demit office. The VC must be dismissed and a proper inquiry conducted to identify all those involved in this incident," CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said in a Facebook post.
Yechury, who paid a visit to the varsity campus today, claimed that the incident reinforces how authorities are determined to "perpetuate" social oppression and strengthen caste prejudices violating fundamental rights of Constitution "in letter and spirit".
The Rajya Sabha member also stated it was "ironic" that President Pranab Mukherjee had adjudged HCU as the "best university" in the country last year.
He referred to reports claiming over 13 students committed suicide in the campus over last few years.
Yechury said the incident was nothing but "stifling" of Indian universities and institutes of higher education "completely contrary" to Nehru's declaration that varsities must be centres of humanism, tolerance, spirit of reasoning and adventure of ideas.
"If all is well with Universities, all is well with India," Yechury said.
Rohith Vemula, who allegedly committed suicide on Sunday night, was among five research scholars who were suspended by the University in August last year and also one of the accused in the case of assault on an ABVP student leader.
They were also kept out of the hostel.
The incident has triggered protests by students in many parts of the country while opposition parties stepped up its attack on the Modi government.
