The Congress expressed strong dissatisfaction over the remarks made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Lucknow on the death of Hyderabad University research scholar Rohith Vemula. The party urged Modi to deliver justice to Vemula than “shedding crocodile tears”. “Shedding crocodile tears will not deliver justice to Rohith Vemula, some actions need to be taken,” said the party’s chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala.

He said that on one side, BJP general secretary Murlidhar Rao questions Vemula’s SC status and HRD Minister Smriti Irani justifies the suspension of PhD students, and on the other side Modi says he is pained at the suicide. “What is true?” Surjewala asked.

He said the Prime Minister rejected the demand of protesting students. “Hyderabad University and student community demand decisive action from him. Mere words and defence of guilty won’t do,” he said, adding that the PM’s Lucknow speech was deeply disappointing for the youth. “We expected justice, action against Irani, Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya, Vice Chancellor Appa Rao and ABVP leaders. Not lip service,” he added.

Fresh curbs Congress general secretary Mukul Wasnik said that in its desire to protect the guilty, the BJP has now gone to the extreme of brandishing Dalit scholars as ‘anti-national’ and ‘supporters of terrorism’ besides questioning the SC status of the deceased Vemula. “All this is shamelessly meted out as University authorities put curbs on expression of opinion by disconnecting internet and wi-fi on the Hyderabad University campus. Not to be left behind, ABVP president Susheel Kumar blames the remaining four Dalit PhD scholars, Ambedkar Students Association and Joint Action Committee for social Justice as guilty for the death of Rohith Vemula,” he said.

“The PM is speaking of everything else except on the issue of stifling of Dalit voices,” Wasnik added.

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