The Congress government of Karnataka is all set to introduce the 'Rohith Vemula (Prevention of Exclusion or Injustice) (Right to Education and Dignity) Bill 2025 in the Vidhan Soudha. This bill, named after a PhD scholar in the University of Hyderabad who committed suicide in 2016, purports to remove discrimination against students of backward communities such as "the Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC) and minorities."
However, there are widespread fears that this bill, if turned into an Act of the legislative assembly, could lead to further victimisation of general category, Hindu members of educational institutions. As per various reports in the media, crimes under this bill will be non-bailable and cognizable. This would mean any complaint registered by an aggrieved person would result in the immediate arrest of the accused.
The already-existing SC/ST Act has been used to persecute people for settling personal scores. Now this bill could compound the troubles further depending on the definition of 'discrimination' that the legislation is going to contain.
Rohith Vemula's story
Contrary to the media narrative that was built up at the time, there was no proof that Vemula committed suicide due to caste-based discrimination. However, the incident occured when the media was in the grip of the infamous 'intolerance' campaign that led to a score of litterateurs returning their awards. The media latched onto this incident as another proof of an 'intolerant' government that was antithetical to the interests of the backward community.
The PhD scholar had left a long but ambiguous suicide note which didn't specify anything specific that led him to end his life. The fact that the incident took place in a non BJP-ruled state also didn't temper a hostile media. What complicated matters further was a statement made by the then-HRD minister Smriti Irani where she claimed that Vemula didn't receive medical attention for a long period even after the discovery of his body, a fact belied by the doctor who examined Vemula's body after being called to the scene.
Rohith Vemula's caste identity was also not clear initially as it came to light that he might not be a 'Dalit', as reported by the media. But this fact too didn't affect the coverage of the incident.
Potential fallout of Rohith Vemula Bill's passing
If the Karnataka government has its way and the Rohith Vemula Bill becomes a law, there is a fear that the Congress government may impose its ideological views upon educational institutions. There has been an attempt by various writers to define 'discrimination' in ways that is nothing but a direct assault on HIndu sensibilities.
Vemula himself was known as highly ideological student who is claimed to have organized events to protest Afzal Guru's hanging as well as 'Beef festival' in the Hyderabad University. An Act in his name would be another illustration of the anti-Hindu bent of the current Karnataka government.
It has been widely reported that this bill is being brought in at the insistence of Rahul Gandhi, who has made caste-based grievance the central theme of all his campaigns in the last two years. With this legislation, he possibly seeks to further his credentials as a 'crusader for social justice', even if at the cost of innocents being victimized.