Kejriwal to visit Hyderabad University today, to meet Rohith's family

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will visit the University of Hyderabad on Thursday to meet the students and family members of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula who committed suicide.

Kejriwal, who was scheduled to visit Bengaluru for undergoing naturopathy treatment for his chronic cough on January 22 for ten days, has deferred his visit and will now go there on January 27.

"The Chief Minister will visit the University of Hyderabad on Thursday to meet the students and the family members of the Dalit scholar who committed suicide," said sources in the Delhi government.

Aam Aadmi Party leaders Ashish Khetan and Ashish Talwar on Wednesday reached Hydrabad to meet protesting students.

Kejriwal had demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi sack Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani, Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya and apologise to the nation over the suicide by the Dalit student, questioning their 'interference' in the internal affairs of the institution.

Rohith, a PhD scholar, who committed suicide on Sunday night, was among the five research scholars who were suspended by the University in August last year over an alleged assault case. They were also kept out of the hostel.

The issue took a political turn with allegations that the extreme step taken by Rohith was a result of discrimination against dalit students at the behest of Dattatreya, following his letter to Irani, seeking action against their 'anti-national acts'.

Meanwhile, Kejriwal will go to Bengaluru for undergoing naturopathy treatment for his chronic cough on January 27 for ten days instead of January 22.