Rohith Vemula's mother, brother convert to Buddhism, say we are now free from caste system

The initiation of Rohith’s younger brother Raja and mother Radhika into Buddhism was organised by Prakash Ambedkar, the grandson of BR Ambedkar.

They were given the “deeksha” by Buddhist monks at a ceremony held at Ambedkar Bhavan in Dadar.

In a statement released, Raja said his primary demands are the sacking and arrest of HCU vice-chancellor Appa Rao  and the setting-up of a SIT to probe the suicide of his brother Rohith.

"We are now free from the caste system. My brother's death has opened our eyes," he said.

"If my brother were alive he would have been proud. From today, my mother and I will start a life that Rohith always dreamt of. From today, my mother and I will be truly free, free from shame", Raja said. 

He also said, "Why doesn't PM Modi make one statement on people responsible for his death? He sheds tears for my brother but said nothing on Appa Rao," referring to the vice-chancellor of the university where Rohith Vemula hanged himself.

Rohith Vemula had said in a suicide note that he did not blame anyone for his decision to kill himself. But a month before that, he had sent a letter to Vice Chancellor Appa Rao about caste discrimination and said Dalit students should be given "a rope to hang themselves".