Until Every Student Gets Respect and Equal Opportunity, Education System Cannot Be Just: Gandhi Writes to Himachal Pradesh and Telangana CMs for Rohith Vemula Act

New Delhi- Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has intensified his campaign to eradicate caste-based discrimination in educational institutions by urging the Chief Ministers of Himachal Pradesh, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, and Telangana, Revanth Reddy, to implement the Rohith Vemula Act. This follows a significant step forward in Karnataka, where Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has directed the drafting of the proposed legislation. Gandhi’s push for the Act during Dalit History Month is being hailed as a landmark victory for the Bahujan community and student fraternity.

On Saturday, April 19, 2025, the Karnataka government issued directives to prepare a draft for the Rohith Vemula Act, aimed at eliminating discrimination against Dalit, Adivasi, and OBC students in educational institutions. Responding to Rahul Gandhi’s letter dated April 16, 2025, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah wrote, “I have instructed my legal advisors and team to draft the Rohith Vemula Act. This law will serve as a stern warning against discrimination in educational institutions.”

Siddaramaiah further affirmed, “Our government is resolute in implementing the Rohith Vemula Act in Karnataka. It will ensure that no student faces discrimination based on caste, class, or religion. We will bring this law at the earliest to honor the dreams of Rohith, Payal, Darshan, and countless others.”

In his letter to Karnataka’s CM, Gandhi invoked the painful experiences of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar to highlight the persistent caste discrimination in India’s education system. He recounted Ambedkar’s ordeal of being denied water during a bullock cart journey due to his “untouchable” status and being forced to sit separately in school. “It is shameful that millions of Dalit, Adivasi, and OBC students still face such brutal discrimination,” Gandhi wrote.

He emphasized the tragic deaths of students like Rohith Vemula, Payal Tadvi, and Darshan Solanki, stating, “Such horrific incidents cannot be tolerated at any cost. The Rohith Vemula Act is the need of the hour to ensure no child endures the casteism faced by Babasaheb Ambedkar, Rohith Vemula, and millions of others.”

Rohith Vemula: A Tragedy That Shook the Nation

Rohith Chakravarti Vemula, a Dalit PhD scholar at the University of Hyderabad, died by suicide on January 17, 2016, in a hostel room, following alleged caste-based harassment. A member of the Ambedkar Students’ Association, Rohith was a vocal advocate for Dalit students’ rights on campus. His death sparked nationwide protests against institutional casteism and remained in the spotlight for years. In 2015, Rohith and four other students were expelled from their hostel over an alleged altercation with a member of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). A controversial closure report by Telangana Police in May 2024 claimed Rohith was not Dalit, further fueling debates.

Encouraged by Karnataka’s proactive response, Rahul Gandhi wrote to the Chief Ministers of Himachal Pradesh and Telangana, urging them to adopt the Rohith Vemula Act. In a post on X, he stated, “Until every student receives respect, safety, and equal opportunity without discrimination, our education system cannot be just. The Congress party is fully committed to ensuring equal access to education for every child and eliminating caste-based discrimination.”

The push for the Rohith Vemula Act during Dalit History Month (April) has been celebrated as a significant triumph by the Bahujan community and student organizations. Data reveals that between 2014 and 2021, 122 students died by suicide in premier institutions like IITs, IIMs, NITs, and central universities, with 68 belonging to SC, ST, or OBC categories. From 2018 to 2023, over 13,000 Dalit students dropped out of central universities due to institutional challenges.