Dalit suicide issue: Dattatreya says his role was 'limited'

HYDERABAD: Under fire for his alleged role in incidents leading to the suicide by University of Hyderabad student Rohit Vemula earlier this week, Union minister of state for labour Bandaru Dattatreya on Wednesday said that his role was “limited to forwarding” two representations he received “on the state of affairs” in the university to the Union ministry of human resources development.
In a statement released here, Dattatreya said he received a representation on August 10, 2015 “on the state of affairs in the University of Hyderabad which disturbed me greatly and I forwarded the same to the MHRD in the hope that things in the campus would change for the better. On August 29, 2015, I received a second representation ‘in this’ (sic) and this too I forwarded to the MHRD with a request to look into the matter and to do the needful.”
Dattatreya, in his statement, said “I have expressed my deep shock on learning about the death of Hyderabad University research scholar Rohit Vemula and I wish his family condolences and the strength to withstand & overcome this tragic loss.”
Recalling his long stint in public life, the BJP leader said “I am also an elected member of parliament from Secunderabad constituency. Since my entry into politics in 80’s, I have always been a leader connected to the masses and to all sections of the society on a daily basis, whether or not in any position of power. Taking representations from common people, constituents and forwarding them to concerned ministries is what I consider my earnest responsibility by being an elected people’s representative.”
Dattatreya also said that Hyderabad University is an autonomous institution with established procedures and “I have no role in the administration of the university. My role was only limited to forwarding these two representations. I would have happily forwarded representations of any other student body, if they were to have approached me.”
“I hope the matter now will rest with this clarification,” Dattatreya said.