Hyderabad: About nine months ago, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wrote to Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy, urging the state to introduce legislation in the name of the Rohith Vemula law to end caste-based discrimination in educational institutions. However, the Telangana govt is yet to introduce the law. In his letter written in April 2025, Rahul Gandhi stated that “it is a shame that even today, millions of students from Dalit, Adivasi and OBC communities have to face such brutal discrimination”. While the Telangana govt has not even prepared a draft, neighbouring Karnataka has introduced a draft of the Rohit Vemula Bill, 2025, and is expected to pass the law in the upcoming assembly session. Rohith Vemula, a research scholar at the University of Hyderabad (UoH), died by suicide in January 2016, allegedly due to caste discrimination at the university.Meanwhile, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Saturday remembered Rohit Vemula and reiterated his demand for a pan-India law to end discrimination.On the occasion of Rohith Vemula’s 10th death anniversary, Telangana deputy chief minister Bhatti Vikramarka informed the Rohith Vemula justice campaign committee at Praja Bhavan that the Telangana govt would soon enact the Rohith Vemula law.He recalled that Rahul Gandhi had written to CM Revanth Reddy urging the introduction of the law in the state. He told the committee that the people’s govt would work towards bringing the legislation after discussions with the CM. Members of the campaign committee submitted a draft of the Rohith Vemula Act, prepared by the committee in Karnataka, to the deputy CM. On the occasion, the committee made several representations, including demands for a transparent inquiry into the Rohith Vemula case and justice for Rohit. They also sought relief for 50 students and two teachers against whom non-bailable cases were registered at the university following Rohith Vemula’s death. The committee further urged the Telangana govt to introduce the Rohit Vemula law on the lines of Karnataka.
