Hyderabad: Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka on Friday criticised the BJP’s appointment of Ramchander Rao as Telangana state president, calling the decision “not correct” and linking it to his role in suppressing student protests during the Rohith Vemula case.
Speaking at an AICC meeting in Delhi on the state of central universities, Bhatti accused the BJP-led Centre of systematically dismantling constitutional rights and undermining academic institutions.
He recalled that during the 2016 HCU agitation following Rohith Vemula’s suicide, it was Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who visited the campus to express solidarity with protesting students. In contrast, Bhatti alleged, Ramchander Rao had acted to stifle the movement.
Bhatti said Vemula had clearly explained the reasons for his suicide in his note, yet those linked to the incident were being rewarded with party promotions. He criticised the BJP for promoting individuals tied to what he described as institutional oppression.
“Everyone has the right to live with dignity. Equality isn’t optional it’s a constitutional guarantee,” he said, adding that BJP leaders seem to forget this.
Bhatti’s comments have sparked political debate in Telangana, sharpening the fault lines between the ruling Congress and BJP.
After the incident, the BJP MLC Ramchander Rao came along with his goons, did a dharna, met the VC, and forced the authorities to take action against the ASA students, filing a false case too. This pressure on the students ultimately led Rohith to take his life.
It’s so… pic.twitter.com/3byo3yBFdc
— Congress (@INCIndia) July 11, 2025
