I Withdraw Support: Radhika Vemula Slams Amnesty India for Bigotry

Radhika Vemula has condemned “the discrimination meted [out] against Dalits and Muslims at Amnesty India.”

Radhika Vemula on her son Rohith Vemula’s second death anniversary.

(Photo: Smitha TK/The Quint)

In a video shared on Facebook on Monday, 1 October, Rohith Vemula's mother Radhika Vemula has spoken out against Amnesty International India, disassociating herself over alleged discrimination against Dalits and Muslims at the human rights organisation.

The video, shared by Mariya Salim, quotes her as saying:

I am Radhika Vemula, Rohit Vemula’s mother. I condemn the discrimination meted [out] against Dalits and Muslims at Amnesty International India. Until action is taken against the management involved in discrimination, I withdraw my support given to Amnesty International India. Injustice meted out to Dalits and Muslims is intolerable. Until action [is taken] against the management, please take down my videos. I extend my solidarity to Mariya Salim and others who are facing discrimination.

Radhika Vemula, Rohith Vemula’s mother

Notably, this comes after Mariya Salim – reportedly an ex-employee at Amnesty International India – wrote an account on The Wire, detailing several instances of discrimination at the organisation that made her resign.

Speaking about her experience at the organisation, she wrote:

I had stepped into a space where the understanding of senior managers about issues of marginalisation and discrimination and on ground community engagement with the most disenfranchised was limited and their behaviour towards staff coming from diverse backgrounds such as mine was averse... In my resignation letter I wrote: ‘I feel discriminated, humiliated, excluded and denied opportunities, unfairly’... I stand firm with Amnesty International’s values but against the values of the upper class, upper caste management of Amnesty International India.

Mariya Salim on The Wire

'Diversity at Our Core, Take Harassment Complaints Very Seriously': Amnesty

Responding to the video of Radhika Vemula, Amnesty International India told The Quint that it respects her wishes and has taken down her video from its website.

... Our 2018 staff survey found 42.19 percent of our employees identified themselves as belonging to Dalit, Adivasi and other marginalised communities, while 27.39 percent of participants belonged to religious minority group... [The] Management takes any harassment/discrimination complaints extremely seriously. All complaints are addressed through rigorous investigation and inquiries are held in strict adherence to the laid norms.

Raj Kapil, COO, Amnesty India

On Mariya Salim's allegations, the organisation once again pointed out its commitment to diversity, while reiterating its "zero tolerance policy" when it comes to allegations of harassment and discrimination.

All complaints are given equal importance and are rigorously pursued by the organisation. We continue to be committed to the cause of equality, both within and outside the organisation.

Raj Kapil, COO, Amnesty India