The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) has called for a demonstration today, Thursday, May 3, at 5:30 pm at Sabarmati Dhaba on the JNU campus.
The protest aims to express outrage against the Telangana police for what is perceived as a misleading and infuriating closure report in the case of Rohith Vemula. The decision to burn an effigy is a symbolic gesture to condemn the handling of the case.
Shared on social media by the Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students Association (BAPSA), the poster for the event features a poignant excerpt from Rohith Vemula's suicide note, "I am Untouchable. My spirit is untouchable, my passion is untouchable. My desire to see India that does not discriminate is untouchable," as quoted by Edex Live.
Rohith Vemula, a PhD scholar from the University of Hyderabad (UoH), tragically died by suicide in January 2016, sparking widespread outcry and calls for justice. The recent closure report filed by the Telangana police has stirred controversy, particularly as it absolves several prominent figures, including Union Minister Smriti Irani, Secunderabad Member of Parliament Bandaru Dattatreya, Member of Legislative Council N Ramachander Rao, the former Vice-Chancellor of UoH Appa Rao, and leaders of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).
The protest at JNU signifies not just a demand for accountability in Vemula's case but also a broader call for justice and equality within educational institutions and society at large.