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ST/SC panel chief Punia certifies Vemula as a dalit

by IBNS 01 Feb 2016, 08:34 am

Lucknow, Feb 1 (IBNS) Contrary to claims made by India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, ST/SC commission chairman PL Punia said on Sunday that Rohit Vemula, the scholar who hanged himself after being discarded by the University of Hyderabad, was indeed a Dalit (backward caste).

Punia was quoted as saying by TOI, "He was a member of the Scheduled Caste. Some people are only trying to water down the issue. Rohith and his siblings were brought up by a single mother, so how can any law determine his caste by that of his father who had left the family years ago?"

"I met the university officials and his friends, including those who were suspended from the hostel, and I believe Rohith was a Dalit," Punia said.

He also thanked Rahul Gandhi for his support towards the Dalits.

"I am thankful to Rahulji for standing up so strongly for the cause of Dalits."

Earlier Sushma Swaraj was quoted in media as saying, "The facts have come out in the case and as per as my complete knowledge, that student (Rohith) was not a Dalit. By calling him a Dalit student, this whole case has been raised a communal incident by some people."