Many political leaders, intellectuals, students, social activists and tribal leaders staged a mass dharna in front of the Raj Bhavan here on Thursday protesting the delay in ensuring justice to the University of Hyderabad PhD scholar Rohith Vemula, who committed suicide over alleged caste discrimination, and demanding stopping of al caste-based discrimination and exploitation in educational institutions.
The activists demanded dismissal of university Vice-Chancellor Appa Rao and Union Ministers Bandaru Dattatreya and Smriti Irani in this connection. later, a five-member team submitted a memorandum to Governor SC Jamir addressing it to the President.
Social activist Manas Jena called upon everyone to launch a social movement to protest the slipshod attitude of the Government in ensuring protection to Dalit students being subjected to caste-based discrimination. The protest meeting was chaired by CPI(M) senior leader Santosh Das.