The Congress party on Thursday demanded the sacking of Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani for “misleading” the nation on the suicide of Dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula.
Soon after the University of Hyderabad revoked the suspension of four Dalit scholars, the Congress stepped up its attack on Smriti claiming that the decision had “confirmed the lies, deception and falsehood” meted out by the minister.
“The decision to revoke the suspension establishes the completely illegal and unconstitutional pressure used by the HRD Ministry earlier leading to the suspension of five Dalit scholars and the consequent suicide of Rohith Vemula,” Randeep Singh Surjewala, in-charge of the AICC Communication Department, said in a statement.
‘Inquiry by HC judge’
He also demanded immediate removal of Union Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya and Vice Chancellor Appa Rao and instituting an inquiry by a sitting High Court judge into Vemula’s suicide.
Smirti had on Wednesday claimed that the Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) leader, who was attacked in student rivalry earlier, also belonged to the OBC community aswas Dattatreya, who had written a letter to her about the attack.
In August, Vemula, a 26-year-old research scholar, and four of his friends, all members of the Ambedkar Students Association at University of Hyderabad, clashed with the ABVP.
Susheel Kumar of the ABVP alleged that he had been assaulted and filed a police case against Vemula and the other students.
A preliminary inquiry found no wrong was committed the members of the Ambedkar Students Association. However, a second investigation found the opposite, leading to the students’ suspension.
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