CM offers Grade-IV job to Vemula’s brother who has MSc degree

The Delhi government has offered a job to the brother of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula whose suicide triggered a debate on campus discrimination and led to a confrontation between student groups and the BJP-led government at the Centre.

Raja Vemula — a Masters degree holder in applied geology — said on Tuesday he was yet to accept the job, offered on “compassionate grounds”.

Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal made an announcement on a job to Rohith’s brother after meeting the Dalit student’s mother in Delhi on February 24.

The university campus turned into the epicentre of nationwide protests after Rohith committed suicide in January following his suspension along with four other students for alleged assault on a leader of the right-wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).

Students and Opposition parties had accused the BJP government of driving the student to suicide due to its alleged bias towards Dalits and so-called lower castes.

Besides the MSc degree from Pondicherry Central University with 72.8% marks, Raja has cleared the national eligibility test (NET) which qualifies him to be hired as an assistant professor in any college in the country.

“The candidate has been given relaxation from normal procedure of selection… and relaxation of skill test qualifications,” the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government’s letter sent on April 4 says. It is a temporary post.