Varanasi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU) on Friday at a time when Hyderabad is facing protests and anger over the alleged suicide of Dalit student Rohith Vemula.
Around 50 per cent students at the Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU) in Lucknow belong to the Dalit community. It is most likely that PM Modi may face protests, in view of which only university staff and 519 students who will receive degrees and medals are allowed at the venue.
Some students have expressed their resentment over the Dalit student’s suicide on social media, hence this step has been taken in order to prevent any chaos during PM Modi’s visit.
Vemula, a Dalit scholar, allegedly committed suicide on January 17 by hanging himself at a hostel room of the University of Hyderabad. Protests have rocked the university and several parts of the country since his death.
Vemula allegedly committed suicide after the university initiated disciplinary action against him and few others and suspended them. The action was allegedly taken on the directive of Union ministers Smriti Irani and Bandaru Dattatreya.
Meanwhile, PM Modi’s visit to Varanasi and Lucknow is also been seen as an effort to woo the Dalit community as Uttar Pradesh is gearing up for the 2017 assembly elections.
