Jitan Ram Manjhi doubts Centre's intention in Hyd student suicide case

PATNA: BJP ally Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi today raised fingers at the Centre for reportedly reinstating the Vice Chancellor of Hyderabad University.

"Vice Chancellor Appa Rao, an accused in the suicide of Hyderabad Dalit student Rohith Vemula and who had gone on leave in the wake of the tragedy, has been reportedly reinstated by the Human Resources Development Ministry," Manjhi said at a press conference here.

"The Union Government's intention does not appear clean in the incident," Manjhi, former Chief Minister of Bihar and a prominent Dalit leader, said.

"We strongly condemn this," Manjhi, whose party HAM is a partner of BJP in the NDA coalition, said.

"If the Prime Minister is sensitive towards Dalits, he should intervene. VC Appa Rao should not be reinstated till the probe is over. If he is found innocent, than he can be appointed anywhere," Manjhi added.

The HAM leader, who is the sole MLA of his party in the current Assembly, also attacked the Nitish Kumar government for non-payment of scholarships to SC, ST and OBC students.