A recent report from the State police has caused controversy for the Congress party. It revealed that Rohith Vemula, a research scholar from the University of Hyderabad, was not actually a Dalit. This goes against the narrative the Congress had been pushing, accusing the Modi government of discriminating against Dalits in educational institutions using Vemula’s suicide as an example.
The closure report has damaged the credibility of the Congress party, as they had used Vemula’s case to criticize the BJP-led government. The BJP is now demanding an apology from the Congress for their allegations. The report has also raised questions about the accuracy of information spread by political parties and the media, emphasizing the need for thorough investigations before making accusations.
Rohith Vemula’s suicide in 2016 led to demands from the Congress for the removal of certain government officials. The closure report was filed while the Congress was in power in Telangana, adding to their embarrassment. The party had even promised a special legislation called the Rohith Vemula Act in their manifesto for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.
In response to the backlash, Director General of Police Ravi Gupta clarified that the closure report was prepared before November 2023 and officially filed in March 2024. As Vemula’s family members expressed doubts about the report, further investigation into the case has been initiated. The Cyberabad police concluded that Vemula was not a Dalit and that his suicide may have been driven by fears about his true caste being revealed.
