'Commission's report on Rohit Vemula's caste politically motivated'

Terming the judicial commission's report on Rohith Vemula's suicide as "politically motivated", the Joint Action Committee for Social Justice at University of Hyderabad today said such conclusion was aimed at "weakening" the case against varsity Vice-Chancellor Appa Rao Podile and others. "Through media reports it was learnt that the one-man commission constituted by Ministry of HRD has declared Rohith Vemula a non-Dalit. It is shocking to see such conclusion, as District Magistrate, a competent authority to declare or verify the claims on caste, has declared Rohith as Hindu SC-Mala," the JAC stated in a release. Declaring Vemula as non-Dalit is a "politically motivated" conclusion and not on the basis of set procedures, it said. "The District Magistrate of Guntur had already submitted a report to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) which declared Rohith Vemula as Hindu SC-Mala," the JAC said. It said the NCSC had approved the report of the District Magistrate, Guntur on the caste confirmation of Vemula. "Thus the comment by the one-man commission, constituted by Ministry of HRD, on Rohith Vemula is completely politically motivated, and is aimed at weakening the case against UoH Vice-Chancellor Podile Appa Rao and others," the JAC said. JAC's statement came in response to the reports that the one-man judicial commission of former judge of Allahabad High Court A K Roopanwal, has observed that Vemula did not belong to the Scheduled Caste (SC) community. Vemula's suicide on January 17 at the University of Hyderabad had sparked massive nationwide protests, resulting in a fierce political slugfest, with a string of political parties and Dalit organisations siding with students and accusing the BJP and varsity administration of being anti-Dalit. UoH has been witnessing sporadic protests since Vemula's death, with students demanding removal of Appa Rao from the VC's post. Appa Rao and others were earlier booked under SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and for abetment of Vemula's suicide.