Rohith’s death not a dalit versus non-dalit issue: Smriti Irani

In the eye of a raging storm over suicide by a dalit research scholar, Hyderabad Central University (HCU) Vice Chancellor Appa Rao Podile today criticised attempts to “politicise” the issue and trashed talks about his being a “BJP man”.

“This is not a dalit versus non-dalit issue as being projected by some to ignite passions….”

BSP supremo said that after independence such an atmosphere has been created in the country, where BJP ministers were making “mockery of constitutional dignity”. HRD Minister Smriti Irani on Monday said that she will not make any political statement and rather wait for the committee to submit its report.

“I am here to clear certain misrepresentation of facts on the suicide of Rohith”, she said. She said even the suicide note by Rohith Vermula, the dalit student, did not mention any MP or political party responsible for his decision to take the extreme step.

“She should read the letter written on December 18, 2015, wherein Rohith wrote to the VC alleging the derogatory remarks that the ABVP activists were hurling at the SC students in the university”. They also accused Smriti Irani of abatement to suicide and asked for her resignation for complying with the letter of Bandaru Dattatreya where he termed the students as anti-national.

Defending Union labour minister Bandaru Dattareya, she said Congress MP Hanumantha Rao had also written a letter raising issues pertaining to Hyderabad University.

Claiming that an attempt was being made to project the issue as Dalit versus non-Dalit confrontation, she also dismissed the demand for her resignation.

Immediately after her press conference, students staged protests against Irani outside Hyderabad University.

The HRD Minister drew the attention of the media to the letter written by Congress MP Hanumantha Rao and said that he wanted a probe to be ordered on the death of students from the Telangana region. The matter reached the Hyderabad High Court the mother of the ABVP leader, who was allegedly assaulted by Rohith and four others, approached it. The High Court had sought an action taken report from the university, he said.

Rohith, a 26-year-old doctorate student, was found hanging in a hostel room on Sunday.

Responding to a question, Irani said that she is not planning to visit the University or the family members of the deceased as she does not want to give the impression that the government is in any way influencing the matter. “At least not from the face of the suicide note as left by the student”, he said.

Vice Chancellor Appa Rao asserted that there had been “no pressure” from Union Ministers or the HRD Ministry to act against the youth. The students demanded the revoking of the suspension of the five Dalit research scholars.