Hyderabad Dalit scholars call Modi outrage against cow vigilantes dishonest, ask: Why no action against ministers?

Counterview Desk
Three Dalit research students of the University of Hyderabad (UoH), all of them colleagues of Rohith Vemula, forced to commit suicide allegedly because of saffron pressure early this year, have called Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s latest “outrage” against cow vigilantes as “dishonest”.
The scholars, Dontha Prashanth, Vijay Pedapudi and Seshaiah Chemudugunta, belong to the Ambedkar Students Association (ASA), and were reportedly “socially boycotted” along with Rohith ahead of the latter’s suicide.
In a letter addressed to Modi, the scholars said, “We heard with disbelief, and a bit of amusement, the speech that you delivered on August 7, 2016 in Hyderabad, where you condemned cow protectors, who attacked Dalits in your home state of Gujarat.”
Modi said, “What is the reason we torture our Dalit brothers? What right do you have? The section which has suffered for centuries, will you force them to suffer more? Be wary of ‘nakli’ (fake) gau rakshaks, they have nothing to do with cow. Governments should crack down on them.” Addressing these ‘nakli’ cow protectors, added, “Attack me, shoot me, not Dalits.”
The scholars said, “We find it ironic that you chose to say these words a few kilometres from where fake cow protectors and fake nationalists from your party forced a brilliant Dalit scholar to take his own life.”
The letter added, “Ministers in your own cabinet Sushma Swaraj and Thawarchand Gehlot started the rumour campaign that Rohith was not a Dalit. Another Union Minister VK Singh called Rohith, and all of us in the ASA, anti-national. Such a campaign had been on ever since his martyrdom.”
The letter recalled, “In Hyderabad, when we Dalit research scholars started quoting from the writings of Babasaheb Ambedkar, we were branded as anti-nationals by Bandaru Dattatreya, a minister in your own Cabinet. No action was taken against him.”
It added, “When we organized 125th Birth Anniversary Celebrations of Dr Ambedkar with Prakash Ambedkar, his grandson, chief guest, he was prevented at the main gate of the university under the instruction of Podile Apparao, vice-chancellor, UoH.”
The letter said, “Apparao is an accused in crime No 20/2016 under SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and abetment to suicide for the constant humiliation and harassment of five Dalit research scholars including Rohith. How can we Dalits dream of justice when Apparao enjoys the backing of a powerful leader like Venkaiah Naidu?”
The letter asked Modi, “Did all these things not cross your mind when you made your speech in Hyderabad this week? What happened in against Rohith and four of us was this: The entire government machinery waged a war against us and is still waging a war for speaking about Dr Ambedkar.”
The letter wondered, “Why did you not speak, when Smriti Irani spoke utter lies in Parliament (about Rohith not being a Dalit)? What action was taken when cabinet minIster Bandaru Dattatreya branded Ambedkarites as anti-nationals and influenced MHRD to write five letters putting pressure on the university management to take action against Ambedkarites?”
Calling the present situation in the UoH “grave”, the Dalit scholars in their nearly 2,000 word letter said, Prof V Krishna, an able administrator, who started reforms in admissions leading to the increased intake of marginalized sections, was forced to resign from his position as Controller of Examinations. Dr Sreepathi Ramudu resigned from his post as head, Centre for Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy. And, several SC/ST faculties tendered resignation to their administrative positions.
Things did not stop here, the letter said: “Dr KY Ratnam, head, Centre for Ambedkar Studies, has been targeted by Apparao and was also sent to jail on false charges along with another faculty, Dr Tathagat Sen Gupta and 25 students.”
---
Read full letter to PM HERE

Comments

Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan raises concerns over Jharkhand Adivasis' plight in Assam, BJP policies

By Our Representative The Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan (Save Democracy Campaign) has issued a pressing call to protect Adivasi rights in Jharkhand, highlighting serious concerns over the treatment of Jharkhandi Adivasis in Assam. During a press conference in Ranchi on November 9, representatives from Assam, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh criticized the current approach of BJP-led governments in these states, arguing it has exacerbated Adivasi struggles for rights, land, and cultural preservation.

Promoting love or instilling hate and fear: Why is RSS seeking a meeting with Rahul Gandhi?

By Ram Puniyani* India's anti-colonial struggle was marked by a diverse range of social movements, one of the most significant being Hindu-Muslim unity and the emergence of a unified Indian identity among people of all religions. The nationalist, anti-colonial movement championed this unity, best embodied by Mahatma Gandhi, who ultimately gave his life for this cause. Gandhi once wrote, “The union that we want is not a patched-up thing but a union of hearts... Swaraj (self-rule) for India must be an impossible dream without an indissoluble union between the Hindus and Muslims of India. It must not be a mere truce... It must be a partnership between equals, each respecting the religion of the other.”

Right-arm fast bowler who helped West Indies shape arguably greatest Test team in cricket history

By Harsh Thakor* Malcolm Marshall redefined what it meant to be a right-arm fast bowler, challenging the traditional laws of biomechanics with his unique skill. As we remember his 25th death anniversary on November 4th, we reflect on the legacy he left behind after his untimely death from colon cancer. For a significant part of his career, Marshall was considered one of the fastest and most formidable bowlers in the world, helping to shape the West Indies into arguably the greatest Test team in cricket history.

Andhra team joins Gandhians to protest against 'bulldozer action' in Varanasi

By Rosamma Thomas* November 1 marked the 52nd day of the 100-day relay fast at the satyagraha site of Rajghat in Varanasi, seeking the restoration of the 12 acres of land to the Sarva Seva Sangh, the Gandhian organization that was evicted from the banks of the river. Twelve buildings were demolished as the site was abruptly taken over by the government after “bulldozer” action in August 2023, even as the matter was pending in court.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual.

Will Left victory in Sri Lanka deliver economic sovereignty plan, go beyond 'tired' IMF agenda?

By Atul Chandra, Vijay Prashad* On September 22, 2024, the Sri Lankan election authority announced that Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) alliance won the presidential election. Dissanayake, who has been the leader of the left-wing JVP since 2014, defeated 37 other candidates, including the incumbent president Ranil Wickremesinghe of the United National Party (UNP) and his closest challenger Sajith Premadasa of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.

Will Bangladesh go Egypt way, where military ruler is in power for a decade?

By Vijay Prashad* The day after former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka, I was on the phone with a friend who had spent some time on the streets that day. He told me about the atmosphere in Dhaka, how people with little previous political experience had joined in the large protests alongside the students—who seemed to be leading the agitation. I asked him about the political infrastructure of the students and about their political orientation. He said that the protests seemed well-organized and that the students had escalated their demands from an end to certain quotas for government jobs to an end to the government of Sheikh Hasina. Even hours before she left the country, it did not seem that this would be the outcome.

A Marxist intellectual who dwelt into complex areas of the Indian socio-political landscape

By Harsh Thakor* Professor Manoranjan Mohanty has been a dedicated advocate for human rights over five decades. His work as a scholar and activist has supported revolutionary democratic movements, navigating complex areas of the Indian socio-political landscape. His balanced, non-partisan approach to human rights and social justice has made his books essential resources for advocates of democracy.

Tributes paid to pioneer of Naxalism in Punjab, who 'dodged' police for 60 yrs

By Harsh Thakor* Jagjit Singh Sohal, known as Comrade Sharma, a pioneer of Naxalism in Punjab, passed away on October 20 at the age of 96. Committed to the Naxalite cause and a prominent Maoist leader, Sohal, who succeeded Charu Majumdar, played hide and seek with the police for almost six decades. He was cremated in Patiala.

Search This Blog