The conclusion that Vemula was not a Dalit falls in line with statements made by then-HRD Minister Sushma Swaraj, that alleged that Vemula belonged to the Vaddera community – a caste which falls under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.
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Days after Vemula was founding hanging in his friend’s room in the university, Human Resource and Development Minister Smriti Irani had said that Rohith Vemula’s suicide was not a caste battle. He was among the five research scholars who were suspended by Hyderabad University in August a year ago and also one of the accused in the case of assault on a ABVP leader.
The motive behind this report has been questioned by the chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, on the grounds that its findings run contrary to those of the district collector, who has the final word in such matters.
When asked if the V-C has been exonerated and if the report has raised questions about Vemula not being a Dalit, the minister said he is yet to read the report.
The suicide by Mr Vemula had triggered a huge political storm with opposition parties launching a massive attack on the Union Government over the issue.
Rohith Vemula’s brother, Raja, unsurprisingly rejected the conclusions on the judicial commission. Yes, my father was from a backward class, but whatever we know is from our experience of living like a Dalit.
In his suicide note, Vemula had referred to his birth as a “fatal accident”.
“It is open to the child of such marriage to lead evidence to show that he/she was brought up by the mother who belonged to the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe”.
“NCSC feels that university authorities/MHRD should examine the whole set of circumstances leading up to this tragic event and take steps to ensure that the SC students are not discriminated against and are fully assimilated into the university life”, it said.
The Commission advised the Guntur district administration to pay Rs 4,12,500 (50 percent of 8,25,000) to his mother as relief amount as per the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules, 2016 and the remaining amount after police files a chargesheet.
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“He (The district collector) already submitted a report that Vemula was a Dalit. It’s a conspiracy against Dalits”, he added.
