I want justice for my son, says Rohith's mother

Radhika Vemula, mother of Rohith Vemula, the Dalit research scholar of Hyderabad University who committed suicide last month, today said she would continue her fight for justice for her son. The grieving mother, who is yet to come to terms with her loss, said while Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi had come twice and consoled the family, there was no such response from the Prime Minister. Vemula, who is in the city with her other son Raju to take part in a meeting organised by the Indian Union Muslim League, wanted a legislation to ensure that no one in the country faces the same fate as that of her son. "Several leaders came. Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi came two times and consoled us. But there was no such response from the Prime Minister," she told PTI. "We want justice. The persons responsible for Rohith's death should be brought to justice", she said, adding, "We do not want to name any persons---but you all know who they are'. Raju Vemula, an MSC student, said they along with the Joint Action Committee for Social Justice (University of Hyderabad) would undertake a three-day 'Delhi Chalo' programme and Parliament march later this month. He said that a campaign was going in campuses in Andhra Pradesh and Telengana for getting justice to Rohith. To a question on reports that certain political parties have 'hijacked' their agitation, he said it was a propaganda and false campaign by BJP-RSS. State Ministers M K Muneer and A P Anil Kumar also met Radhika Vemula and sought to know from her the situation that led to the suicide of her son. Rohith Vemula, who committed suicide on January 17, was among five research scholars who were suspended by Hyderabad Central University (HCU) in August 2015 and also one of the accused in the case of assault on a student leader. They were also kept out of the hostel.