Bandaru Dattatreya clarifies on Dalit Scholar Suicide

Press Statement issued by Sri Bandaru Dattatraya, Hon’abour & Employmentble Minister of State (Independent charge) for Labour & Employment, Govt of India on 20th January, 2016 at Hyderabad.

I have extended my heartfelt condolences to Mr. Rohit Vemula, a student of University of Hyderabad who has committed suicide. I wholeheartedly wish his family strength to withstand & overcome this irreparable loss.

Apart from being a Union Minister, I am also an elected member of parliament from Secunderabad constituency. Since my entry into politics in 80’s, I have always been a leader connected to the downtrodden & to all sections of the society on a daily basis, whether or not in any positions of power. Taking representations from common people, constituents & forwarding it to concerned ministries is what I consider my earnest responsibility by being an elected representative.

In this current issue being raised by media, I wish to clarify the below points:

1. I have forwarded a representation from ABVP, which I had received on the 10th August 2015 to MOHRD. While forwarding the representation, in my covering letter I only wished that things in the campus would change for better.
2. I have also forwarded another representation from ABVP, which I had received on 29th August 2015 to MOHRD, in my covering letter I had only requested to look into the matter & to do the needful.
3. I have in no manner influenced any decisions made by the University of Hyderabad in this case directly or indirectly by simply forwarding these two representations to a concerned ministry.
4. My role was only limited to forwarding these two representations.
5. I would have happily forwarded representations of any other student body, if they were to have approached me.

I hope the matter now will rest with this clarification.

Regards,
Shri Bandaru Dattareya