Rahul Gandhi Calls on Telangana Govt to Pass Rohith Vemula Act
Click to start listening
Synopsis
Rahul Gandhi urges Telangana's government to enact the Rohith Vemula Act to combat caste discrimination in educational institutions. He highlights the tragic case of Rohith Vemula, a Dalit scholar who took his own life in 2016 due to such discrimination and calls for legislative change to prevent further tragedies.
Key Takeaways
- Rahul Gandhi advocates for the Rohith Vemula Act.
- The Act aims to address caste discrimination in education.
- Rohith Vemula's suicide in 2016 sparked national protests.
- R Gandhi draws on the experiences of B.R. Ambedkar.
- The Congress party has pledged to enact this legislation.
Hyderabad, April 21 (NationPress) The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Monday, called upon the Telangana government to implement the Rohith Vemula Act to combat caste discrimination within educational institutions.
In a letter addressed to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, Rahul Gandhi emphasized the need to eradicate caste discrimination through legislative means.
Rohith Vemula, a Dalit research scholar at the University of Hyderabad, tragically took his own life in 2016 due to alleged caste discrimination.
His death ignited widespread protests on campuses nationwide, highlighting the issue of caste discrimination in educational settings.
During his visit to Hyderabad University, Rahul Gandhi pledged that if the Congress party returns to power, they will enact the Rohith Vemula Act.
In his letter dated April 17, he urged CM Revanth Reddy to prioritize the enactment of this significant legislation.
The Congress party had previously committed to enacting the Rohith Vemula Act during the Assembly elections.
Rahul Gandhi's letter to CM Reddy followed a similar correspondence to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who responded by stating he has tasked his legal team with drafting the Rohith Vemula Act.
In his letter, Rahul Gandhi referenced B.R. Ambedkar to illustrate the two instances of caste discrimination that Ambedkar personally experienced.
He quoted Ambedkar, saying, "There was plenty of food with us. There was hunger burning within us; with all this we were to sleep without food, that was because we could get no water, and we could get no water because we were untouchables," describing an unfortunate incident during a long bullock cart journey.
The Leader of Opposition also recounted Ambedkar's experiences in school.
"I knew I was an untouchable, and that untouchables were subjected to certain indignities and discriminations. For instance, I knew that in the school I could not sit in the middle of my classmates according to my rank, but that I was to sit in a corner by myself."
Rahul Gandhi wrote, "I trust you would agree that the experiences faced by B. R. Ambedkar are disgraceful and should not be tolerated by any child in India. It is a travesty that, even today, millions of students from Dalit, Adivasi, and OBC communities endure such severe discrimination in our educational establishments."
He further stated, "The deaths of promising young individuals such as Rohith Vemula, Payal Tadvi, and Darshan Solanki are simply unacceptable. It is high time to end this cycle. I implore the Telangana government to enact the Rohith Vemula Act so that no child in India has to suffer as B.R. Ambedkar, Rohith Vemula, and countless others have done."
Rohith Vemula was one of five Dalit scholars who faced suspension from the university following an alleged assault on ABVP activist Susheel Kumar.
The 26-year-old died by suicide in his hostel room on January 17, 2016, leaving behind a poignant note that drew attention to caste discrimination in higher education.
This tragic event led to significant unrest on the central university campus and prompted massive protests at universities across the nation, raising critical questions about the treatment of students from marginalized communities.
