Rohith Vemula was not a Dalit, says Sushma Swaraj

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Saturday said that Rohith Vemula, who committed suicide in the Hyderabad Central University, was not a Dalit.

"The facts have come out in the case and as per as my complete knowledge, that student (Rohith) was not a Dalit. By calling him a Dalit student, this whole case has been raised a communal incident by some people," Swaraj said.

On Rohith's birthday anniversary on Saturday, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi sat on fast along with the protesting students at the Hyderabad Central University.

Gandhi said, "When you let what has happened to Rohith happen in the country, it will happen to you one day, no matter who you are. You will one day find that the same people, who crushed Rohith, will be blocking your path to freedom, to progress...Rohith was also an Indian youngster who was searching for truth. Nobody has right to take away the right to 'search for the truth', this is exactly what happened with Gandhi ji and Rohith as well,"

Rohith, a PhD student at the university, committed suicide by hanging himself in his room. He was among the six research scholars, suspended by the Hyderabad Central University (HCU) in August last year in connection with an alleged attack on an ABVP leader.

The HCU has already revoked suspension of the four students, following uproar over Vemula's suicide.