Rahul for Rohith law

Likens the dalit scholar to Mahatma

Hyderabad: The protest over the suicide of a dalit research scholar in the University of Hyderabad intensified with Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi joining the agitators again at the campus and observing a day-long fast on Saturday.

He demanded for a law in the name of Rohith to curb discrimination in universities. Rahul Gandhi sat on fast with students, including four other suspended scholars and Rohith family members, as they held a day-long hunger strike for justice.

He said there is a massive discrimination in universities and colleges. “This issue is not just about one student. There is discrimination against dalits, tribals, women, based on religion and caste. What you have said to me is very powerful idea that it is the time for India to have a law that targets this discrimination in our universities,” said Rahul while addressing the agitating students of University of Hyderabad.

Rahul who was here for second time in less than two weeks said "My main opposition to Modiji and the RSS is that they are trying to crush the spirit of Indian youngsters by imposing one idea from the top. Don't force one idea on students." He said if Modi wants India to progress, power of students should be unleashed.

“If they are feeling discriminated in the universities and colleges, you will not be able unleash the power of students. So in order to take the country, study this proposition, look into the possibilities of passing a law that targets discrimination in the universities. If you do not do so then I can tell you these students will look into the possibilities,” he added. He said, "Please put your idea in the market place of ideas and then if students accept that idea, I am fine with it," he added.

Drawing parallel between Rohith's suicide and Mahatma Gandhi's assassination, he said "What has happened here is exactly what was done to Gandhiji. Gandhiji was killed by the same forces which did not allow him to speak the truth he wanted to say. It is exactly the same thing that has happened to Rohith they did not want him to speak the truth that he saw in this institution.” He said that the idea of 'Make in India' has to be interlinked to issues like discrimination. "These are not separate ideas," he said.

On Friday night, as students raised slogans against Union ministers Smriti Irani and Bandaru Dattatreya, Rahul intervened and politely told them not to shout 'murdabad'. "Let us not say 'murdabad' to somebody," he said. Rohith’s mother Radhika demanded that a Rohith be brought to stop discrimination against dalit students in universities.

She said she had sent her son Rohit to the university thinking that he would become IAS officer. Rohith told me that he will get a job next year. But the university handed over me his body. No mother should suffer like this,” she said. Former Lok Sabha Speaker PA Sangma also visited the university expressing solidarity with the protesting students.