ABVP slams Rahul Gandhi's 'caste politics'; calls for nationwide stir

Kochi, Jan 30: ABVP today hit out at Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi for playing "caste politics" over the suicide of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula and called for a two-day nationwide protest to "expose the leader's hidden agenda".

National General Secretary of ABVP, Vinay Bidre also criticised CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, saying they were also playing "very bad politics" over the issue.

"We are going to expose the hidden agenda of these people," Bidre said, while calling for a two-day nationwide protest starting from tomorrow in order to "stop the politicisation and save Hyderabad Central University Campus."

Stepping up the offensive on the Dalit scholar's suicide issue, Gandhi today observed a day-long fast along with the agitating students of Hyderabad Central University after participating in a candle light vigil in the wee hours.

Bidre, here to attend the state Conference of the ABVP, described as "sad and a serious incident" the suicide of Vemula. He, however, said the issue should not be construed as "a battle between the dalits and non-dalits."

"Death should not be politicised. But Leftists are trying to obfuscate the whole issue and make it murkier by trying to portray Vemula as Dalit and Susheel, an ABVP activist in the Hyderabad University Campus a non-Dalit.

"The ABVP contends that Vemula belongs to the Vaddera community and certificates which claim that he is a Dalit are false," he said.

Bidre also condemned the lathicharge on protesting ABVP workers in Hyderabad today.

PTI