Rohith Vemula Act a necessity, says Rahul Gandhi on Dalit scholar’s 10th death anniversary

On the 10th death anniversary of Dalit student Rohith Vemula , Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said the situation for Dalit youth in higher education has not improved and pressed for a stringent anti discrimination law.

Vemula, a 26-year-old research scholar at the University of Hyderabad, died by suicide on January 17, 2016, after alleged harassment . His death sparked nationwide protests against caste discrimination in educational institutions, with Gandhi joining student demonstrations at the time.

In a post in Hindi on X, Gandhi said, “Today marks 10 years since Rohith Vemula’s passing. But Rohith’s question still echoes in our hearts: does everyone in this country have an equal right to dream?” He recalled Vemula’s ambitions, saying, “Rohith wanted to study, he wanted to write. He wanted to understand science, society and humanity to make this country a better place. But this system could not tolerate a Dalit’s progress.

Rahul said Vemula was pushed to despair by “ institutionalised casteism , social exclusion, daily humiliation, language that kept reminding him of his ‘place’ and inhumane treatment.” He added, “This was the poison that stripped a promising young man of his dignity and left him completely alone.”

Questioning whether anything has changed since then, Gandhi said, “And today? The same contempt on campus, the same isolation in hostels, the same feeling of inferiority in classrooms, the same violence and sometimes, the same death.” He remarked that caste continues to dominate opportunities, saying, “Caste is still the biggest admission form in this country.” According to the National Crime Records Bureau’s Crime in India 2023 report, a total of 57,789 cases of crimes against Scheduled Castes were registered across the country during the year, underscoring the persistence of caste based violence and discrimination. The crime rate against Dalits stood at 28.7 per lakh population , with Uttar Pradesh reporting the highest number of such cases. While NCRB data do not separately track discrimination within educational institutions, the figures highlight the broader climate of exclusion and violence faced by Dalits, which Gandhi said continues to shape experiences on university campuses.

Describing the proposed Rohith Vemula Act as essential, Gandhi said, “This is not a slogan, it is a necessity.” He explained that the law is needed “so that caste-based discrimination in educational institutions becomes a crime, strict action is taken against the perpetrators and the freedom to silence and exclude students on the basis of caste is ended.”

Calling on students to mobilise , Gandhi said, “This fight is not just in Parliament, it is the fight of youngsters on campuses and it is our fight.” Addressing Dalit youth directly, he said, “Raise your voices, organise yourselves, stand with each other and demand implementation of the Rohith Vemula Act now. We need an anti discrimination law now.”

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has recently notified the Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026 , aimed at curbing caste-based discrimination on college and university campuses. Under the new rules, all higher education institutions are required to establish equity committees and equal opportunity centres to address complaints of unfair treatment and promote inclusion. Importantly, the regulations explicitly define caste-based discrimination to cover Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes, and mandate broad representation from these groups in institutional equity bodies. Non-compliance by colleges and universities could invite strict penalties, including potential loss of eligibility for UGC schemes and central grants, as part of efforts to ensure a more equitable academic environment.”

Rahul said Congress governments in Karnataka and Telangana are moving towards implementing the law soon, adding, “We want an India that is just, humane and equal, where no Dalit student has to pay for their dreams with their life.” He concluded, “ Rohith, your fight is our responsibility .”