PM Expresses Grief Over Rohith Vermula Suicide ; HRD Ministry Forms Judicial Panel
22 January, Lucknow
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday said he is pained over the suicide of Hyderabad University Research scholar Rohith Vemula.
Addressing a convocation function of Baba Saheb Ambedkar University in Lucknow, Modi said whatever may have been the reason behind the suicide, a mother has lost her beloved son. The Prime Minister said a young son of the country was compelled to commit suicide, he can feel the pain what Vemula’s family must have gone through.
Human Resource Development Ministry has set up a Judicial Commission to review the entire sequence of events and the circumstances which led to the unfortunate suicide by a Hyderabad University research scholar Rohith Vemula.
The Committee will also establish the facts and correctives in the context of the University. Commission will submit its report within three months.
HRD Minister Smriti Irani spoke to the mother of Rohith and extended her condolences.
An official release said, the decision to set up the Judicial Commission was taken on the basis of the fact finding team of the HRD Ministry. The Ministry has also chalked out various measures to address the issues faced by the students from disadvantaged background in higher educational institutions and prevent such incidents in future.
The Ministry will create a special mechanism for receiving and taking expeditious action on the grievances from the students. At the same time, all Vice Chancellors and senior administrators would be sensitised to reach out to such students and there will be zero tolerance for any acts of discrimination on campus. Besides, a special charter will be issued to all the higher educational institutions in this regard.
BJP Friday said it is unfortunate that some leaders are doing politics even on Hayderabad University student suicide. The party said the setting up of a judicial commission into the incident by the government is a befitting reply to them.
Talking to reporters in New Delhi, BJP Spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said some people are doing politics on the issue and the entire country is pained on this kind of politics. Another party spokesperson M J Akbar alleged Congress has become a desperate party and raking up issues unnecessarily.
Meanwhile, National Students’ Union of India, NSUI, activists today marched towards the Human Resource Development Ministry to protest over the suicide of Hyderabad University student Rohith Vemula.
The protesters demanded the resignation of Union Ministers Smriti Irani, Bandaru Dattatreya and Hyderabad University Vice Chancellor. They were stopped at Raisina Road in New Delhi by the police on their way to the HRD minister’s residence and detained.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar visited Hyderabad Central University and expressed solidarity to the agitating students. Speaking on the occasion the CPIM leader demanded the government to conduct a thorough inquiry into Rohith Vemula suicide. He stressed the need to put in place a proper system to prevent such incidents in educational institutes in future.