By MM Special Correspondent,
New Delhi: Muslim groups have strongly condemned the role played by union ministers in tragic death of Dalit Research Scholar Rohit Vemula in Hyderabad and demanded their sacking without fail. They also expressed deep concern over the growing hateful atmosphere against the Dalit community and caste-based polarization in the country since the BJP came to power at the Center.
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind has demanded prosecution of all those responsible for the incident, monetary compensation to the victim family and immediate reinstatement of Rohit’s four friends who were suspended from the hostel of Hyderabad University in Aug 2015.
“We are deeply concerned at the growing hateful atmosphere against the Dalit community and caste-based polarization in the country.
This intolerance being to Dalits is highly condemnable,” said Mohammad Salim Engineer, Secretary General, and Jamaat-e-Islami Hind.
He said it is a serious and condemnable trend and warned that the country would not progress until and unless Dalits, weaker sections and minorities feel secure and safe.
Echoing this, Welfare Party of India also demanded that both the central ministers and the vice chancellor of University of Hyderabad should be removed from their post and a thorough inquiry of the incident.
Party president Dr SQ R Ilyas asked for inquiry through a sitting High Court judge in the entire sordid episode examining the role of Union Minister, BJP MLA, ABVP activists, Vice-Chancellor of University as also HRD Ministry.
Another Muslim outfit, the Social Democratic Party of India threatened to launch a nation-wide if justice is not done to Dalit scholar. Party also organized a protest demonstration in the national capital to press the demand for justice.
All Indian Milli Council said the Modi government has become a habitual offender in trampling upon the rights of Dalits and poor. Be it the statement of RSS Sarsanghchalak, Mohan Bhagwat, calling for a review of reservation or shameless comment passed by Union Minister, V.K. Singh comparing dalit children to dogs. Milli Council leader Dr Manzoor Alam said suicide of the 25 year dalit boy Rohith is not an isolated incident but a sinister culmination of ‘social boycott’ of dalits from the University campus and passing ‘derogatory remarks’ against dalits by ABVP activists.
Muslim groups also expressed solidarity with the grieved family and extended unflinching support for the entire movement of students against caste-based discrimination.
Rights group based in Hyderabad said the central universities in the country have become the den of Hindutva fascism. The students coming from the marginalized and backward communities have become the target of the Hindutva hegemony.
Civil Liberties Monitoring Committee said in a statement that the upper caste, Brahmanical Hindutva forces do not want students from weaker sections to pursue higher education. Committee’s general secretary Lateef Mohammed Khan expressed concern that higher educational institutions including universities are being turned into dens of communalism and casteism.
