Congress invokes Rohith Vemula as its Dalit yatras conclude in UP

Raking up the suicide, UPCC president Raj Babbar lambasted the Centre for “neglecting the downtrodden classes”.

Congress leaders invoked Rohith Vemula once again on Tuesday, at the conclusion of the party’s ‘Dalit Shiksha-Suraksha aur Swabhiman’ (Dalit education, security and self-respect) yatras. Party workers, gathered at the UP Congress Committee (UPCC) headquarters, raised ‘Jai Bheem’ slogans.

Congress UP chief Raj Babbar along with other Congress leaders at the concluding event of the Dalit yatras. (UP Congress on Twitter)

Vemula was a student of the University of Hyderabad who had committed suicide on January 17, 2016.

Raking up the suicide, UPCC president Raj Babbar lambasted the Centre for “neglecting the downtrodden classes”.

“January 17 is not far away. Rohith Vemula gave his life on this day for his self-respect, security and rights. Unfortunately, the Union government appeared interested in knowing his caste instead of taking care of his education, security and self-respect,” said Babbar, addressing party workers.

Babbar quoted Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi to emphasise his point that over the years, the grand old party had lost its connect with the Dalits. “Rahul had often asked workers why the party failed in getting leaders like the late Jagjivan Ram,” he said. “The party’s SC/ST department has been working to develop Dalit leadership on Rahul’s directives,” Babbar added.

The UPCC’s SC/ST department had launched these yatras to “remove misgivings about the party among Dalits” and take Congress’ programmes to the 2,800 Dalit-dominated villages in the 85 reserved assembly constituencies of the state.

Congress’ Rajya Sabha MP, PL Punia, said, “About 130 yatras were launched on December 4, 2016. They covered a distance of 3.5 lakh kilometres in 40 days. The yatras were a big hit and will help in strengthening the Congress in UP.”