Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has condemned the attempts by "vested interests" for projecting the Hyderabad University scholar, Rohith Vemula, as a non-Dalit.
It is most unfortunate to know that "vested interests" are working hard to disprove the fact that Rohith is a Dalit, he said
"I will not allow such things to happen and I condemn this in very strong words," he said.
In a letter to Radhika, the mother of Vemula who committed suicide in a hostel room on the campus on January 17, Siddaramaiah expressed regret that the university campus has become a "place for unscrupulous elements to achieve their politically motivated, caste-based agenda."
"The university campus, which should have a cordial atmosphere for the students to learn and achieve all round growth, unfortunately, has become a place for unscrupulous elements to achieve their politically motivated, caste-based agenda," the senior Congress leader said.
Noting that he has learnt a lot about the plight of students belonging to SC, ST and OBC sections at the campus, he told Rohith's mother that he was aware of the circumstances that must have forced him to take the extreme step.
While some BJP leaders have claimed that Rohith was not a Dalit, the Chief Minister did not specify who the "vested interests" were.
Congress has been demanding the sacking of HRD Minister Smriti Irani and Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya along with the removal of the Hyderabad Central University Vice chancellor in the wake of the suicide.
