Sack Hyderabad University VC, Smriti Irani must apologise: Kejriwal

A senior Dalit professor at the Hyderabad Central University has completely rejected Education Minister Smriti Irani’s account of the role he played in the suspension of Rohith Vemula, a 26-year-old research scholar, who died after allegedly committing suicide on Sunday. He was suspended and his stipend blocked after he and his friends were accused of assaulting an ABVP student leader.

The issue has snowballed into a massive political controversy with critics alleging that the HRD ministry pushed for the Dalit students to be punished by sending five reminders to the university’s vice-chancellor after labor minister Bandaru Dattatreya complained to Irani’s department.

Hitting out at Irani, the AAP chief while addressing the agitating students said her statement about Vemula’s death as well as subsequent agitation by the university’s students was a clear attempt to make it a caste issue for which she must apologise. Referring to Dattatreya’s communication to the HRD ministry, Kejriwal said: “In the letters he has used three words – “anti-nationalist”, “casteist” and “extremist”. She must seek forgiveness from the country”.

“Belated decision of Hyderabad Central University to revoke the suspension of four dalit Ph.D. scholars (colleagues of deceased Rohith Vemula) proves the guilt, complicity and collusion of BJP-ABVP-University authorities in perpetuating anti-poor, anti-dalit agenda on the University campus”.

The reproduction of the story/photograph in any form will be liable for legal action. “Her name should also be there in that FIR”, Kejriwal said.

Demanding immediate sacking of the university’s Vice Chancellor, Kejriwal said Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya’s letter to HRD Msinister Smriti Irani seeking action against Ambedkar Students Association was an example of coming to judgement before enquiring about the issue.

“In response to the honourable minister’s fabricated statements, we the Dalit (SC/ST) faculty and officers lay down our administrative positions”, said a statement by university’s SC/ST Teachers and Officers’ Forum.

Tearing into the arguments put forth by the HRD Minister, Surjwala said she spoke a “blatant lie” that the decision of the Proctorial Board declaring the five Dalit students not guilty was an “ex-parte decision”.

“They (the students) were expelled from hostel, banned from entering shared spaces inside the university premises based on orders from the top”.

AAP chief also said Smrithi Irani started speaking all the caste based lies once she came into power.

Maintaining that the whole country is with the students in their fight, he offered a “small advise” to the Prime Minister not to get into an issue with the students.