After Karnataka, Rahul Gandhi Urges Telangana To Implement Rohit Vemula Act

Following the letter to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah seeking legislative measures to end caste-based discrimination in education, the opposition leader has now urged the Telangana government to enact the Rohith Vemula Act.

Congress had pledged to introduce the Act at the national level if they come to power at the Centre. The proposed legislation aims to address caste and communal atrocities on campuses, ensuring that no student from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds faces discrimination like what Rohith Vemula had endured.

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“Our education system cannot be truly equitable until every student is ensured respect, safety, and equal opportunities, free from all forms of discrimination,” Rahul Gandhi said.

In the letter dated on April 17, Rahul Gandhi narrated a small incident reflecting the discrimination endured by B.R. Ambedkar. He added that even today, millions of students from Dalit, Adivasi, and OBC communities continue to face such brutal discrimination in our education system.
“Our education system cannot be truly equitable until every student is ensured respect, safety, and equal opportunities, free from all forms of discrimination,” Congress leader said.

“The murder of bright young people like Rohith Vemula, Payal Tadvi, and Darshan Solanki is simply not acceptable. It is time to put a firm end to this. I urge the Telangana government to enact the Rohith Vemula Act so that no child of India has to face what Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Rohith Vemula, and millions of others have had to endure,” the letter added.

Rohith Vemula, a Dalit PhD scholar at the University of Hyderabad, died by committing suicide, a case which had sparked national outrage and became a symbol of caste-based discrimination in academia.

On Gandhi’s previous appeal to Karnataka CM, the state had pledged to enact the Act.

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In his letter, Siddaramaiah responded to Gandhi’s message which cited an incident faced by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. “The reference in your letter dated 16th April 2025, to the incident faced by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, as narrated by him, is indeed a sad reality even to this day. No child or adult must face the shame and stigma faced by Babasaheb,” Siddaramaiah wrote.