Opposition members in the Parliament on Wednesday sought a probe into the suspected suicide of a Dalit research scholar at the JNU and alleged “caste discrimination” there.
Responding to the members’ concerns, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar assured the lok Sabha members of a “suitable action” while Minister of State Commerce Nirmala Sitharaman informed the Upper House that Delhi Police has been directed to urgently file an FIR in the suicide Muthu Krishnan and the Government was also considering the deceased father’s request for a job to his sisters.
Opposition members in the lok Sabha too sought a probe into the suspected suicide of the research scholar at the JNU and alleged “caste discrimination” there. “It is very shocking. He had written a Facebook post criticising the Dalit policy of the JNU. He had recorded incidents of discrimination. His father has sought a CBI enquiry. It is a very serious incident,” K Suresh (Congress) said. An AIADMK member alleged caste discrimination and bias against students from south India and sought a HRD ministry probe.
During the Zero Hour, CPI leader D Raja raised the matter saying a Dalit student from Tamil Nadu had died in pathetic and “mysterious” circumstances and asked what was happening in the central universities of the country. Raja had raised the matter related to the situation facing “Dalit, Tribal, Minority and OBC” students.
Several other members including DMK leaders Tiruchi Siva, Kanimozhi, SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav, JD (U)’s Ali Anwar Ansari expressed their anguish over the incident. Siva said while students of weaker sections got into the institutions through the reservation system, they faced problems like economic deprivation and societal attitude.
Deputy Speaker P J Kurien also told the minister that the members’ statements seemed to suggest that there was a feeling of discrimination and insecurity among the Dalit students and the government should look at these aspects.