Earlier, on Rohith’s death anniversary, Radhika Vemula had alleged that government were desperate to declare him an OBC
A report by the Guntur collector concluded that Rohith Vemula was not a Dalit, and his certificate was reportedly obtained by fraudulent means. The certificate will be cancelled. A notice has been served to Vemula’s family and response has been sought asking why his certificate shouldn’t be cancelled. The District Level Scrutiny Committee in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh submitted his final report stating that neither Rohith nor his mother Radhika were Dalits.They reportedly belongs to Vaddera community which falls under the OBC category.
The District Level Scrutiny Committee, which reviewed Rohith Vemula’s Dalit status, today submitted its final report and stated that the deceased was not a Dalit. Guntur Collector Kantilal Dande informed that the certificate was obtained by fraudulent means and should be cancelled. Vemula’s family has been intimated about the findings of the inquiry and a response has been sought as to why the certificate should not be cancelled.
Rohith, 26, had committed suicide by hanging himself in the University of Hyderabad's campus in January last year. He was earlier suspended from the university hostel in August 2015 by the administration for allegedly attacking an Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) leader.
Earlier, on Rohith’s death anniversary, Radhika had alleged that government were desperate to declare him an OBC. She had said: “Governments are desperate to declare Rohit as Other Backward Class (OBC). After my son's demise... they are now behind me. They want to declare my son as OBC. I know what humiliation I have undergone being Dalit in the society.”
Radhika was addressing a group of students as part of the 'Shahadat Din' organised at the main entrance gate of University of Hyderabad (UoH) here. Rohith was found hanging in a hostel room on UoH campus.
Radhika questioned why there was a delay in arresting the accused, including UoH Vice Chancellor Appa Rao Podile, Union Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya and others, who have been booked under SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and for abetment of Rohith's suicide.
A section of students under the aegis of Joint Action Committee for Social Justice - UOH had said that they would gather at the 'Rohit Stupa' on the varsity campus to remember his legacy and to vow that the fight will go on against "casteism and communalism". However, nobody was allowed inside the campus.
Addressing the group, Rohith's brother Raja Vemula alleged, "During inquiry at the Guntur Collector office (with regard to the caste status of Rohith) they insulted my mother by questioning her character. She was also questioned how she raised her kids."
"Whoever is raising his voice in the country is being labelled as 'anti-national'," he alleged, adding, "Unless we get justice, we will continue to fight till our death." Radhika later requested the UoH security personnel to allow her to at least visit the 'Rohith Stupa' on the campus, but was denied permission. She, along with Raja and others, was also taken away by police.
Raising questions on Rohith Vemula's Dalit status, a commission constituted by the HRD ministry after the scholar's death, had said that the material on record did not establish the caste of the deceased and attributed his suicide to personal reasons.
However, National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) Chairman P L Punia had rejected the judicial commission's report on Vemula's suicide as "fake and fictitious", and said the deceased research scholar was a Dalit.
With inputs from agencies
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