Despite the University revoking the suspension of the four students, the student agitations are not satisfied and demanding the resignations of Union Ministers Smriti Irani and Bandaru Datattreya.
What exactly are their faults? Rohit Vemula and his friends assaulted an ABVP student on campus. Why? The ABVP student had called them ‘goons’ in a Facebook post. Why did he call them goons?
They had taken out a rally in Central University in support of ‘Yakub Memon’ and condemning his execution.
The student was assaulted so badly that he had to be admitted to a hospital. His mother knocked at the doors of the university and not finding justice there, approached the High Court.
On the instructions of the High Court, a committee was appointed by the University which recommended action against Rohit Vemula and the other students.
The then Vice-Chancellor did not take any action and Bandaru Datattreya had written to Smriti Irani expressing concern at the state of affairs in the University where rallies were being taken out in support of executed terrorists.
Smriti Irani then asked for progress on the issue from the University. In the meantime, a new Vice-Chancellor came who promptly acted on the recommendations of the University and suspended the students.
And the University cannot be accused of discrimination because it had suspended five ABVP students last year for disturbing campus peace. There was no public outcry then?
Are the Union Ministers to resign for asking the University to prevent events honoring terrorists on campus? Are they to resign for doing their duty?
And interestingly, Rohit had written in his suicide note the following lines which were later found scratched off, “Ambedkar Students Association (ASA), Students Federation of India (SFI) anything and everything exist for their own sake. Seldom the interest of a person and these organizations match.”
Prior to his death, it was clear that Rohit was disillusioned with these organizations. And ironically, it is these very organizations calling for the heads of the Ministers.
Kejriwal and the rest of politicians should be ashamed for trying to gain political mileage from the unfortunate death of a student. This suicide tourism should stop once and for all!
By Kiran Sharma
