-Ramesh Sharma Bhopal
Congress, during its rule, enacted numerous laws that deepened caste divides in the “Sanatan” (Hindu) community and appeased Muslims. Now, Congress-governed states are planning a single law that will accomplish both such objectives simultaneously. This law is to be named the “Rohith Vemula Act”, and the Karnataka government has reportedly prepared its draft.
Under the proposed Rohith Vemula Act, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes (OBCs), and minority communities would all be included as protected categories. It would apply to educational institutions. Complaints lodged by a student from any of these protected categories against any general‑category student, teacher, or institutional representative would become non‑bailable and cognizable offenses, carrying a maximum prison sentence of three years. Institutions that fail to act on such complaints would face sanctions: state aid would be cut off, repeat offenders could lose their accreditation, and the responsible institution head could face one year in jail and a ₹10,000 fine. After a conviction, the complainant would be eligible for state compensation of up to ₹1 lakh.
India already has protective laws for Scheduled Castes and Tribe communities. However, these laws typically apply only when caste‑based slurs or harassment occur. If an SC/ST complainant simply files a regular dispute without mentioning caste insult, special protections often don’t apply. There have been many cases where a person initially exaggerated a complaint and later retracted it in court, benefiting the accused. But the Rohith Vemula Act being proposed in Congress‑led states has two unique features. First, Muslims have been added to the protected categories, putting them on the same legal footing as SC/ST/OBC communities. Now, if a Muslim student files a complaint against someone from the general category, it too becomes a non‑bailable cognizable offense. Second, the complaint‑filing party becomes eligible for state financial support only if the accused is convicted in court. This creates an incentive for complainants to pursue their grievance fully, anticipating financial reward.
Congress has long pursued a policy of appeasing Muslims by including them in the OBC category to grant them reservation benefits—even at the cost of reducing the quota available to Hindu OBCs. Now, with the proposed Rohith Vemula Act, Congress appears determined to provide Muslims with legal privileges akin to those granted to Scheduled Castes and Tribes—under the name of Rohith Vemula.
Rohith Vemula famously obtained caste‑based benefits through a falsified SC certificate. Though he belonged to the Vaddera (OBC) community from Guntur district in Andhra Pradesh, he secured SC status through fraudulent documentation to claim scholarships of up to ₹25,000 per month. He also became associated with the Ambedkar Students Association, which holds left‑leaning views. Ambedkar himself held views critical of Islam and adopted Buddhism. But the student union he inspired prioritized Muslim students over general category students in protest events.
Vemula’s speeches frequently targeted general category students, shaping his reputation as an aggressive Dalit student leader. In August 2015, a seminar and rally protesting the hanging of terrorist Yakub Memon—convicted for the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts—sparked nationwide controversy. Instead of condemning the terrorists, Vemula and his associates appeared to sympathize with Memon, inciting widespread protests. Meanwhile, the student union backed the event, whereas the student wing linked to the BJP strongly opposed it. Accusations flew about sedition and terrorism support.
Later, it came to light that Vemula was not a genuine SC by birth: official documents labeled his family as OBC. When this contradiction surfaced, his student status and scholarship were revoked, and disciplinary proceedings were ordered. On January 17, 2016, Vemula died by suicide. In his farewell note, he absolved others of blame and acknowledged his personal decision. However, many Dalit rights activists framed his death as caste oppression, turning it into a national issue. Demonstrations surged across the country, alleging that Vemula was forced by society’s biases to end his life.
Yet theories now suggest he may have taken his life to escape impending legal action. Using a false SC identity to receive benefits is a punishable offense under Indian law. Indeed, the Telangana police later concluded in their court-submitted closure report that Vemula knew he was not SC and feared exposure. Ironically, this police report was submitted under a Congress-ruled government in Telangana; if a BJP state had governed then, the narrative might have differed.
Academic and political circles draw parallels with events at JNU in Delhi, where student leader Kanhaiya Kumar once praised figures like Rohith Vemula. That same year, on the death anniversary of Afzal Guru—convicted mastermind of the 2001 Parliament attack—a memorial held at JNU drew chants alleged to be anti-national. Kumar was accused as one of the speakers. He even contested the Lok Sabha elections from Begusarai in Bihar as a Communist Party candidate and later joined Congress, contesting for the Delhi Assembly. With the Rohith Vemula Act, Congress seems intent on enshrining Vemula as a martyr-like figure and institutionalizing his legacy.
Although memorials for Afzal Guru and Yakub Memon took place years apart and across different cities, some see patterns of ideological alignment and political maneuvering. Critics argue the campaigns distract from potential sleeper-cell networks fostering terrorism sympathies among youth—issues overshadowed by caste and identity politics.
Conclusion: Facing eroding support, Congress appears to be experimenting with new identity-based formulas for political gain. Driven away from national policy debates, the party relies instead on caste census appeals, OBC reservation pushes, and Muslim appeasement strategies. Analysts note that Congress’s improved tally in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections—to 99 seats—stemmed largely from these tactics. Buoyed by this success, Congress is now rolling out the Rohith Vemula Act across Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka—states where Congress currently governs. In Karnataka, where only about 6% of the population is general category, the Act would officially cover 94% of residents.
If applied nationwide, the Act could be rolled out as a model in Congress‑ruled states. Many senior Congress leaders appear to have lost sight of India’s cultural unity. Some critics liken this new approach to “divide and rule” policies once practiced by foreign invaders. For them, the Rohith Vemula Act represents a new iteration of these tactics: a law that deepens societal divisions under the guise of protection and appeasement.
