Students launch relay fast, seek justice for Rohith

GUNTUR: The Rohith Vemula Joint Action Committee (RVJAC), comprising various students’ organisations and Dalit unions, launched a relay hunger fast in Guntur on Sunday seeking justice to Rohith, the UoH scholar who committed suicide a few days ago.

Republican Party of India state secretary J.R. Bhagat Singh, senior leader of Mala Mahanadu, Mallela Venkata Rao, SFI leader Bhagavan Das, Republican Students Federation of India leader John Kennedy, Dalit Bahujan Front secretary A. Deva-kumar, Congress SC cell state secretary Korivi Vinaykumar, Social Democratic Party of India district president Md. Riyaz and others took part in the relay hunger strike.

They demanded suspension of University of Hyderabad V-C P. Appa Rao, removal of union minsters Smriti Irani and Bandaru Dattatreya and also to pass a legislating restraining political interference in the affairs of universities.

They said they would continue the protests in various forms till February 16 across the state. They said a rally  would be taken out in Guntur on Feb. 6 and a public meeting would be held on Feb. 13 held on February 6 in Guntur city.

And on February 13 a big public meeting would be held seeking justice to Rohit Vemula. They alleged attacks by BJP and Sangh Parivar with the help of BJP government and claimed the suicide of Rohit as the result of BJP ministers interference.

Recalling the statement of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, praising BR Ambedkar, the leaders together alleged the Mr. Modi on the other hand he is allowing BJP and its associated organisations to suppress Dalith communities. The leaders warned of intensifying the agitations if the government fails to fulfill their demands.