Hyderabad: Ms Radhika Vemula, the mother of research scholar Rohith Vemula, was shifted to the intensive care unit of the Continental Hospital after she complained of pain in the chest.
Earlier in the day, she had complained of giddiness and restlessness near the students dharna point on the UoH campus and had been taken to the health centre for treatment. Doctors at the UoH clinic said her blood pressure was high and she was given sedatives to help her sleep.
A senior doctor on condition of anonymity said, “We will observe her situation till 6 pm. After that if required we will shift her to Continental Hospital for further investigations.”
Ms Radhika Vemula has been sitting near the dharna point and meeting students and visiting politicians. Doctors said the stress of Rohith’s suicide and lack of sleep were some of the reasons for her high blood pressure.
Rohith worked on daily wages, says mother
On Day 7 after Rohith Vemula’s suicide, the Joint Action Committee for Social Justice on Sunday demanded that the Telangana state government book cases under the SC/ST prevention of atrocities Act against those responsible for the scholar’s death.
The JAC members named ABVP leader N. Susheel Kumar, Union minister Bandaru Dattatreya, vice-chancellor Prof. Appa Rao Podile and chief proctor Prof. Alok Pandey.
JAC member Arpita Jaya said, “We want a police case to be booked under this Act and only then can we be sure that justice will be served. Why is the government not taking it up?”
Radhika Vemula, who was at the dharna point before taking ill later in the day, said, “I want to know why my son committed suicide. He didn’t commit suicide when he had to work for daily wages after his Class 10. He didn’t take such a step when it was difficult for us to manage two meals a day. Why would he do that now?”
“I want answers as to what kind of pressure was exerted on him by other students that led to his suicide? I will stay here till I get those answers,” she said.
Upset that the government was trying to prove that the family was not Dalit, she said, “Why are questions being asked on my caste? Why did the university not send us a single letter when they suspended him? Why was there no communication then? Why is the topic now being shifted to my caste?”
She said she does not want the Rs 8 lakh compensation offerd by the University of Hyderabad, but answers to her questions.
