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States » SouthPosted at: Apr 18 2025 5:01PM


Siddaramaiah vows Rohith Vemula Act to end campus bias

Bengaluru/New Delhi, Apr 18 (UNI) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday announced that the state government will soon enact the Rohith Vemula Act, a landmark legislation aimed at eliminating discrimination on the basis of caste, class, or religion in educational institutions.
The announcement came in response to a passionate letter from Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, who called for urgent action to protect students from marginalised communities.
In a public statement, Siddaramaiah said, "Our Govt stands firm in its resolve to enact the Rohith Vemula Act in Karnataka — to ensure no student faces discrimination based on caste, class, or religion. We will bring this legislation at the earliest to honour the dreams of Rohith, Payal, Darshan, and countless others who deserved dignity, not exclusion."
He added that the move would be a meaningful step toward fulfilling the egalitarian ideals of Dr BR Ambedkar, whose life and legacy continue to inspire India's social justice movement.
The Chief Minister's announcement followed a letter from Rahul Gandhi, dated April 16, in which the Congress leader drew attention to the deep-rooted caste discrimination still prevalent in Indian education. Citing the words of Dr Ambedkar, Rahul Gandhi quoted a poignant childhood memory:
"There was plenty of food with us. There was hunger burning within us; with all this we were to sleep without food; that was because we could get no water, and we could get no water because we were untouchables."
Referring also to the humiliations Dr Ambedkar endured in school, Rahul Gandhi wrote: "I knew I was an untouchable, and that untouchables were subjected to certain indignities and discriminations. For instance, I knew that in the school I could not sit in the midst of my classmates according to my rank, but that I was to sit in a corner by myself."
In his letter, sent from his 10 Janpath residence in New Delhi, Rahul Gandhi wrote, "I know you would agree that what Dr BR Ambedkar faced was shameful and should not be endured by any child in India. It is a shame that even today, millions of students from Dalit, Adivasi and OBC communities have to face such brutal discrimination in our educational system."
Responding swiftly, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah thanked Rahul Gandhi for his "heartfelt letter and unwavering commitment to social justice." He reiterated the Congress government's commitment to protecting the dignity and rights of the students, asserting that Karnataka would lead the way in codifying protections against systemic exclusion.
"This will be a step towards realising Dr BR Ambedkar's vision of an equal, compassionate India," the Chief Minister said.
The Rohith Vemula Act, once enacted, will mark the first state-level law of its kind in India. The proposed legislation is named after Rohith Vemula, a PhD scholar at the University of Hyderabad who died by committing suicide in 2016, triggering nationwide outrage and soul-searching over caste-based discrimination in higher education.
While various draft versions of such a law have been discussed at the national level, they have yet to materialise into legislation. Karnataka's move is therefore likely to reignite the debate over caste and inclusion in education across the country.
The proposed law is expected to include strict penalties for institutional discrimination, along with mandatory support systems for students from SC, ST, and OBC communities.
It will also establish independent grievance redressal bodies within universities and hold university officials accountable in cases of negligence or bias, aiming to create a more inclusive and equitable academic environment.
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