Rohith Vemula's mother accepts Rs 8 lakh compensation, says it's not 'compromise with university management'

The mother of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula, who allegedly committed suicide, has accepted a compensation of Rs 8 Lakh from the University of Hyderabad. Radhika Vemula, mother of Rohith Vemula said her lawyers had advised her to take it. 

She was quoted saying by Indian Express: “Earlier, I had refused to accept the money as I was under the wrong impression that it was being offered at the behest of Apparao and thought that they were trying to buy my silence. However, I’ve learned that this money is being paid as per the orders of National Commission for Scheduled Castes, which under the leadership of P L Punia has stood by us.”

She added: “I want to state clearly that acceptance of this compensation, which is rightfully due to the family and dependents of Rohith Vemula, is in no way a compromise with the university management. I will not rest until Apparao Podile and his masters in the BJP are punished for their crimes."

Vemula, a research scholar at the Hyderabad Central University, was found hanging from a ceiling fan in a hostel room on January 17, 2016.
He was allegedly upset over disciplinary action taken against him by the university.

His suicide had triggered a huge political furore with the then HRD Minister, Smriti Irani, coming under attack along with Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya for having written a letter related to the matter. 

Vemula’s death had become a major flashpoint. Before the Gujarat elections, Rahul Gandhi had said: “How dare Rohith Vemula go to college for education? A letter comes from a minister and he was crushed.”

Earlier, Justice Roopanwal Committee has observed in its report had observed in its reportHyderabad University scholar Rohith Vemula who committed suicide last year took the extreme step due to personal reasons and not because of the university expelling him,

The report, which gives a clean chit to then HRD minister Smriti Irani and BJP leader Bandaru Dattareya — by not holding anybody responsible for the act, also states that Vemula was not a Dalit by caste.

The one-man judicial committee report, made public on HRD Ministry's official website on Tuesday, recommends no action on the basis of its findings as "no one is responsible for his (Vemula's) death".

Vemula and four of his Dalit friends were suspended by the university and expelled from the hostel following a clash with an ABVP leader. Protesters alleged that the action was taken at the behest of BJP leaders and Union ministers.

The HRD ministry had formed a committee to look into the matter headed by former Allahabad High Court judge Justice AK Roopanwal.

"Finding of the commission has observed that the punishment could not be the reason for suicide of Vemula when the same was challenged before the High Court of Andhra Pradesh and pending on the date of suicide. Further, the suicide did not relate to any activities of the university including Vice-Chancellor Prof. Appa Rao Podile or the political leaders. It was wholly a decision of his own," read the report.

With inputs from ANI