Rohit Vemula is not a Dalit, says Probe Commission

The single member commission comprising retired Allahabad High Court judge AK Rupanwaal has said that research scholar Rohit Vemula of the Hyderabad Central University is not a Dalit and consequently there was no discrimination against him.

The commission, which submitted its report in the first week of August has also absolved vice-chancellor Podile Appa Rao of any role in the sucide of Rohit Vemula.
Rohit Vemula, who has been thrown out of the university along with three other students, has ended his life. Following this, there was an agitation demanding action against the vice chancellor, Union Ministers Bandaru Dattatreya and Smriti Irani and ABVP leader Susheel Kumar.

However, there were doubts about Rohit Vemula’s caste, which his mother and father coming up with divergent claims. While his father said they were Vadderas, a BC caste, mother Radhika claimed they were Malas. The commission, which went into the issue, has ruled that Rohit was not a dalit.

However, there were doubts about Rohit Vemula’s caste, which his mother and father coming up with divergent claims. While his father said they were Vadderas, a BC caste, mother Radhika claimed they were Malas.

Rohit’s mother Radhika strongly criticised the report and said it was aimed at absolving the ministers and the vice-chancellor. They said the commission has been very partisan during the inquiry. They said the would come out with their version after the report is made public.