New Delhi: With protests raging over death of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula in Central University of Hyderabad, Human Resources Development Minister Smriti Irani on Wednesday alleged that a "malicious attempt" was being made to project it as a "dalit versus non-dalit confrontation."
Irani said at a press conference that there was an attempt to ignite passions for political gains, in an obvious reference to protests by Congress and other opposition parties over the issue.
The 26-year-old student committed suicide on Sunday by hanging himself in a hostel room, months after he was barred from the facility , along with four others, for allegedly attacking an ABVP leader.
"This is not a dalit versus non-dalit issue as being projected by some to ignite passions.... A malicious attempt is being made to show it as a caste battle which it is not," the minister said.
Irani added that the sub-committee of the executive council, which recommended action against the students, had a Dalit member.
She also pointed out that even the suicide note by Rohith did not mention any MP or political party responsible for his decision to take the extreme step.
"Only ASA ( Ambedkar Students Association) has been mentioned in the end," she said producing a police-certified copy of the suicide note.
The Narendra Modi government has come under fire after it emerged that the HRD ministry had sent a series of letters to the varsity after Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya wrote to Irani demanding action against the five students.
Irani defended her ministry saying the letters were procedural and that the same was followed on a letter sent by Congress MP Hanumantha Rao in September 2014 highlighting suicides by students from marginalised sections.
"Such communications should get a reply within 15 days to ensure prompt attention is given to the concerns raised by Members of Parliament,"she said, adding it was followed even by previous governments.
She sought to downplay the letter of Dattatreya, who had sought action on the issue of clash between two student bodies and the "anti-national activities" in the varsity.
The minister was at pains to project that the ABVP student, who was attacked in the student rivalry, belonged to the OBC community as was Dattatreya.
The varsity's executive council had barred the five students from the hostel, administration and other public places but allowed them at their departments, library and academic meetings. The High Court refused to intervene when the students challenged the order.
Appealing for restraint, Irani said passions are being ignited by "wrong information, misrepresentation, misconstruing and twisting" of facts to project a wrong image.
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