Oppn attacks govt over JNU suicide
Opposition members in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday sought a probe into the suspected suicide of a Dalit research scholar at the JNU and alleged “caste discrimination” there.
Responding to the members’ concerns, parliamentary affairs Minister Ananth Kumar assured the House of “suitable action” and said the entire House shared the grief over the death of Muthukrishnan, an M Phil student at JNU’s Centre for Historical Studies.
“It is very shocking. He had written a Facebook post criticising the Dalit policy of the JNU. He had recorded incidents of discrimination. His father has sought a CBI enquiry. It is a very serious incident,” K Suresh (Congress) said.
An AIADMK member alleged caste discrimination and bias against students from south India and sought an HRD ministry probe.
These members recalled the suspected suicide of another Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula in the University of Hyderabad last year. Muthukrishnan knew Vemula and had joined the protests following his death.
POLICE FILES FIR
Delhi Police on Wednesday registered a case of abetment to suicide and also under the SC/ST prevention of atrocities act against unknown persons to probe the death.
While the police suspected that Muthukrishnan may have been under depression due to which he allegedly committed suicide, his father Jeevanantham alleged foul play and demanded a CBI probe.
On Tuesday, he filed a police complaint alleging that his son was facing harassment in JNU because of his caste and a thorough investigation must be conducted into his death . Jeevanantham said his son was not under any medication for depression.