Speaking in both houses of parliament, HRD minister Smriti Irani has attempted to counter those questioning the government on Rohith Vemula’s suicide and the interventions made by ministers into what was an internal inquiry at the University of Hyderabad into an affray in which the Dalit student was involved.
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A few hours after Irani’s Lok Sabha speech, 150 students and supporters were detained by the police after a peaceful candlelight vigil at India Gate in Rohith’s memory.
This was followed by sloganeering by BSP members, who called the government “anti-Dalit”.
Adding to the ongoing issue, Rohith’s another friend Vijay Kumar said, “We have all faced incredible humiliation already, yet the honorable minister continues to lie and make theatrical comments in Parliament”.
Mayawati went to the extend of asking Irani to behead herself as what she had failed to include a Dalit member in the judicial commission probing Vemula’s death.
A Dalit professor, Prakash Babu, had attended the sub-committee meeting that recommended the suspensions to the council, but he did so in his capacity as dean of students’ welfare and not as a representative of Dalits.
“I request you Mayawati ji, I am ready to give a reply”.
As she read out a document on Mahishasur Puja, referring to the demon slain by the goddess Durga, which she said came from JNU, it created a huge uproar among the opposition.
Earlier in the day, Irani had a face-off with BSP chief Mayawati in the Rajya Sabha, with the minister taunting her that only she could issue certificates on dalit credentials. But they (government) will not let me speak because they are scared. Prashanth asked. Radhika said that Rao never communicated to her anything about that letter nor did he meet her till date. So, we had to raise the issue. They said they are all lies and falsehoods. “The Telangana police is conniving with the Central government”, the suspended students said. Rohith Vemula was a Dalit scholar of HCU who committed suicide inside University of Hyderabad hostel room on January 17 after being allegedly targeted by the university and the Hindutva outfits. I reached within 4 minutes. Kurien too agreed that a discussion can be taken up immediately if the House agrees.
An expert on parliamentary procedures said a minister’s statement in Parliament was expected to be correct.
“The minister is trying to defend the government for its failures and inaction”.
“The other house is functioning very well. I beseech you, please do not pass unverified statements as evidences”. On the day that Rohith passed away, his body was discovered at 7pm and Dr Rajshree arrived at the spot at around 7:30.
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After the Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani verbal fight with Mayawati – the BSP leader in Rajya Sabha she has hit out on its opposition party in the Lok Sabha there is no such question of excuse for their government regarding the controversy that happened at JNU and also about the suicide case of the Rothith Vemula.
