Yatnal Slams Rohith Vemula Bill, Calls It Divisive And Draconian
“I urge the Honorable Chief Minister not to proceed with the draconian and ill-conceived bill, which is nothing but institutionalized discrimination of General Category Hindu students and selective appeasement of SC, ST, OBC, and Muslim vote bank, as the prevailing SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act already has legal powers: Yatnal
VIJAYAPURA: Terming it a “draconian and ill-conceived” bill, Bijapur City MLA Basanagouda R. Patil Yatnal has urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah not to proceed with the proposed Karnataka Rohith Vemula (Prevention of Exclusion or Injustice) Bill, 2025, alleging that it aims to institutionalise discrimination under the guise of social justice.
In his letter dated July 17, Yatnal, alleged that the bill, which aims to prevent discrimination against students belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, and minorities in higher education institutions, is politically motivated and designed to appease vote banks.
“The Karnataka Rohith Vemula (Prevention of Exclusion or Injustice) (Right to Education and Dignity) 2025, which is intended to prevent discrimination against students in higher education, has ulterior motives other than for the welfare or to protect the dignity of SC, ST, OBC, and minority students,” he wrote.
“The act is a tool of the Congress government for caste-based political mobilisation aimed at appeasing the SC, ST, OBC, and its most trusted Muslim vote bank. The act creates a victimhood narrative and is devised with a malicious and mischievous intent of dividing the Hindus. The act is yet another tried and tested strategy of replicating the Divide and Rule of the British,” he stated.
Yatnal noted that the act will increase false accusations, curtail free speech and social harmony, and polarise academic institutions and will divide the society and weaken institutions.
“Offences under the legislation will be non-bailable and cognizable, which means that the Police can arrest without a warrant. It provides for the setting up of special courts for a speedy trial and appointment of at least 1 special public prosecutor for every special court and 1 each in the High Court. To make matters worse for academic institutions, they could lose the financial aid from the State or grants if found violating the bill's provisions. This bill intends to create a divide among Hindus, and not social justice. The bill only safeguards SC, ST, OBC, Muslims, and Minorities, but excludes the General Category students,” he alleged.
Yatnal said a single false complaint could destroy a student’s life and career. “This is not a response to caste-based discrimination but a case of state-sponsored apartheid,” he wrote.
The MLA drew a controversial parallel between the bill and the atrocities committed during the Holocaust, claiming the Congress’ move mirrors Hitler’s targeting of Jews in Nazi Germany.
“I urge the Honorable Chief Minister not to proceed with the draconian and ill-conceived bill, which is nothing but institutionalized discrimination of General Category Hindu students and selective appeasement of SC, ST, OBC, and Muslim vote bank, as the prevailing SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act already has legal powers. The unreserved Hindu student will bear the brunt of this bill. I request you to stop this legal extortion and identity-based targeting of the Hindu community to score Political brownie points,” he added.
Yatnal is a senior leader and MLA from Bijapur City, known for his strong Hindutva stance and outspoken views. A former Union Minister of State for Railways and Textiles, he was recently expelled from the BJP. He remains a prominent face of hardline Hindutva politics in Karnataka.
