On Tuesday, the 55th day of his Bharat Jodo Yatra, Congressman Rahul Gandhi stated, “Rohith Vemula is and will always be a symbol of my campaign against social inequality and injustice. He was joined by the mother of the Dalit University of Hyderabad student whose suicide caused protests in 2016.
“Extended solidarity to Bharat Jodo Yatra, walked with Rahul Gandhi, and called upon Congress to save Constitution from BJP-RSS assault, Justice for Rohith Vemula, passing Rohith Act, increasing representation of Dalits, oppressed sections in higher judiciary, education for all,”
Gandhi declared in a tweet written in Hindi that Vemula would always serve as a symbol of his fight against social injustice and discrimination The former Congress chief claimed that by meeting Rohith’s mother, both the journey’s purpose and the steps leading thereto gained fresh courage.
Vemula, 26, hanged himself in his dorm room, claiming that the university administration had treated him unfairly and harassed him because he was a Dalit. On the basis of an ABVP leader’s allegation, he and four other people had been suspended. Congress officials were quoted by The Indian Express as saying that Rahul will be met with by representatives of the civil society.
Many local Shadnagar residents who consider themselves to be community leaders and who support the objectives of the Congress party—racial harmony, international peace, and defence of democracy—joined the padayatra.
According to one of the leaders, considerable attendance is also being made by the Telangana Federation of Trade Unions, Pravasi Mitra Labour Union, intellectuals, and activists including Prof. G. Haragopal, a member of the Rythu Swaraj Vedika.
The development significantly strengthens the Congress’ efforts to engage Dalits in Telangana, where elections are scheduled to take place next year.
To gain major ground in the Munugode by-election ahead of the Assembly elections, the Congress, the BJP, and K Chandrashekar Rao’s BRS are all frantically wooing Dalit voters.
KCR’s “Dalit Bandhu” programme, which he launched in June of this year, will provide Rs 10 lakh by direct bank transfer to every Scheduled Caste family in the state. The strategy hasn’t, however, been put into practise yet. After denouncing the chief minister’s proposal as a political ploy, the Congress eventually launched a month-long Dalit-Adivasi Dandora (drive).