Did Telangana BJP Chief Really Send Legal Notice to Deputy CM Over Allegations?

Hyderabad, July 15 (NationPress) The President of the Telangana BJP, N. Ramchander Rao, has issued a legal notice to Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka regarding allegations connecting him to the suicide of Rohith Vemula, a research scholar at Hyderabad University.

Rao demands that the Congress leader offer an unconditional apology within three days; otherwise, he will pursue defamation proceedings amounting to Rs 25 crore.

As a practicing lawyer at the High Court, Rao emphasized in the notice that the claims made against him are malicious and baseless.

He pointed out that the final investigation report from the SC/ST Special Court in March 2024 has completely cleared him of any wrongdoing.

According to the notice, there was no evidence of abetment, and the caste allegations were proven to be fraudulent. “Mallu Bhatti resorted to political slander, misusing his position to disseminate lies,” stated the BJP.

The party firmly asserted that it will not allow false propaganda against its members.

During a press conference in Delhi on July 11, the Deputy Chief Minister criticized the BJP for designating Ramchander Rao, whom he labeled as one of the accused in the suicide case of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula, as the leader of the BJP's Telangana unit.

Mallu Bhatti contended that the BJP has once again demonstrated its tendency to reward individuals who act against Dalit and tribal communities.

He charged that the BJP leader exerted pressure on Hyderabad Central University to suspend Rohith Vemula and four other students after a conflict between ABVP and ASA student groups, ultimately contributing to Rohith's tragic suicide in 2016.

Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka reflected that Rohith was a dedicated PhD scholar who was actively involved with the Ambedkar Students' Association (ASA). He noted that Rohith and his peers were advocating for the dignity and social justice of Dalits, but faced a false case initiated by ABVP leader Susheel Kumar, which led to immense pressure being placed on the university authorities to discipline and disgrace them, culminating in Rohith’s suicide.

Mallu Bhatti alleged that then BJP MLC Ramchander Rao, accompanied by his associates, orchestrated protests, met with the vice chancellor, and coerced the administration into taking action against the ASA students, which ultimately pushed Rohith to take his life.

He remarked that pressures from the Union Human Resource Minister down to local MLC Ramchander Rao led to actions taken against Rohith and other Dalit students.