New Delhi, Jan 21: Jamaat-e-Islami Hind has strongly condemned the undue involvement of ministers in a university issue leading to the suicide of a young Dalit research scholar in Hyderabad. While expressing sympathy with PhD scholar Rohit Vemula’s family, Jamaat has demanded prosecution of all those responsible for the incident, monetary compensation to the victim family and immediate reinstatement of Rohit’s four friends who were suspended from the hostel of Hyderabad University in Aug 2015.

“We are deeply concerned at the growing hateful atmosphere against the Dalit community and caste-based polarisation in the country. This intolerance being shown to Dalits is highly condemnable,” said Mohammad Salim Engineer, Secretary General, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind.

“We condemn the involvement of central ministers in a university issue which left undue pressure on the young PhD scholar resulting in the undesirable extreme step that he took on Sunday,” he said.

“This is a serious and condemnable trend. As long as there is a sense of insecurity, inequality and discrimination among Dalits, weaker sections and minorities, the county will not progress,” said Jamaat leader.

“We demand fair probe into the suicide case, prosecution of all responsible for the incident, compensation to the victim family and reinstatement of the four Dalit research scholars who were suspended along with Rohit last year. We also demand release of the research fellowship reportedly not paid to them for the last seven months. We express our condolences to the victim’s family and we are with them at this juncture of grief and sorrow,” said Jamaat leader.