Congress leader Rahul Gandhi made a strong push for an anti-discrimination law on Saturday. He spoke out on the tenth anniversary of Dalit student Rohith Vemula's death. Gandhi emphasized that Dalit youth still face serious challenges on university campuses across India.
A Decade Later, The Struggle Continues
Rohith Vemula was a 26-year-old research scholar at the University of Hyderabad. His life ended tragically on January 17, 2016. He died by suicide following allegations of sustained harassment and discrimination.
Marking this somber anniversary, Rahul Gandhi posted a message in Hindi on social media platform X. He posed a poignant question about the current reality for Dalit students.
"And today? Has the reality for Dalit youth changed? The same contempt on campus, the same isolation in hostels, the same feeling of inferiority in classrooms, the same violence - and sometimes, the same death. Because caste is still the biggest admission form in this country."
The Call for a Rohith Vemula Act
Gandhi stated that the proposed Rohith Vemula Act represents more than just a political slogan. He called it an urgent necessity for the nation. The Congress leader framed the issue as a broader societal fight.
"This fight is not just in Parliament, it is a fight of the youngsters on campuses and 'it is our fight'," Rahul Gandhi asserted. He stressed the immediate need for robust legal protection. "We need an anti-discrimination law now," he emphasized.
He provided an update on legislative efforts, noting that Congress-led governments in Karnataka and Telangana are actively working to implement such a law. Their goal is to enact this legislation as quickly as possible.
Congress Criticizes Modi Government
Separately, the Congress party launched a sharp critique of the central government on Saturday. Senior leader Jairam Ramesh, who serves as the party's General Secretary in charge of communications, addressed a different issue.
In a post on X, Ramesh referenced a recent joint military exercise. He pointed to a statement from the US Central Command confirming that American and Pakistani army soldiers completed training drills codenamed 'Inspired Gamble'.
Ramesh described this development as another setback for what he called the Modi government's "self-proclaimed Vishwaguru" diplomacy. He linked the exercise to broader geopolitical concerns.
The Congress leader highlighted remarks by US President Donald Trump, who has reportedly expressed admiration for Pakistan's Field Marshal Asim Munir. Ramesh connected this to the context of regional tensions.
He recalled that inflammatory statements from the Pakistani military leadership preceded the terror attacks in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025. This connection formed part of his critique of the current administration's foreign policy stance.
The day's events underscored the Congress party's dual focus. They addressed pressing domestic social justice issues while maintaining a critical eye on the government's international engagements and diplomatic relationships.
