'Raised anti-PM slogan to oppose atrocities on Dalit students'

Lucknow, Jan 23: Two students, who had shouted slogans during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address at a convocation function here, today said they took the step to ensure that no Dalit student faces the same fate as Hyderabad University's scholar Rohith Veluma.

Ram Karan and Amrendra Kumar Arya, who were arrested and released later on personal bonds, said they had raised their voice to oppose the alleged atrocities on Dalits.

"We are followers of Baba Saheb and students of Constitution and law... A Dalit student Rohith Vemula committed suicide in Hyderabad... Students should not die in this manner and that is why we raised slogans," Karan said.

Arya said, "This voice will not die down... We took this step in order to ensure that in the times to come no Dalit student faces what Rohith had to face."

"The same had happened with Baba Saheb 50 years ago and today it has again happened with Rohith... Be it Allahabad University, Aligarh Muslim University or BBAU, Dalit students are being harassed," he said.

The two had shouted slogans during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's convocation address at Babasaheb Bhimrao Amebdakar University (BBAU) and urged him to do "justice" in the case relating to the suicide of Rohith Vemula of the Hyderabad University.

Ram Karan alleged that after yesterday's incident, the university administration threw him out of the guest house even though he had deposited the rent for two days.

Rohith Vemula, a research scholar at the University of Hyderabad, allegedly committed suicide in a hostel room on the campus on Sunday last. He was among five research scholars who were suspended by the university.

PTI