Hyderabad students say PM’s remarks ‘insulting’

The students rejected an appeal by Minister of State for HRD Upendra Kushwaha who, on a visit to the city, asked them to call off their agitation and assured them of justice, a day after the Centre decided to set up a judicial commission to look into the suicide of Rohith following his suspension by the varsity. 

Voicing “dissatisfaction” over remarks by Modi at a university in Lucknow, the Joint Action Council (JAC) spearheading the stir asked if the Prime Minister would now take action against his ministers. “It is highly insulting to have received a condolence statement from Prime Minister Narenda Modi. He has referred to Rohith Vemula as Bharat Mata’s son. Joint Action Committee for Social Justice condemns in the strongest possible words, the appropriation of Rohith’s politics,” the JAC said in a statement. 

“Rohith Vemula and the other socially boycotted stood always against the Hindutva and Manuvadi politics which the BJP ministers proudly stand for,” it said. “It is under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Delhi Police brutally lathi-charged the protesting students, male police officers manhandled women students and detained them.”