March 20, 2025 12:07 am (IST)
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Rahul Gandhi saw political opportunity in Rohith's case: Smriti Irani
New Delhi, Feb 24 (IBNS): Defending herself and her government on the issue of the ongoing turmoil over JNU anti-India slogans and Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula's death in Hyderabad, an emotional Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani on Wednesday attacked Rahul Gandhi saying the Congress Vice-President saw political opportunity in the suicide case of Vermula.
Irani accused the opposition of using Rohith's death as a "political tool."
"Do not politicize education and make it a battlefield..Our children are not vote banks," Irani said during a debate in the Parliament on JNU controversy and Hyderabad student Rohith Vemula's suicide.
"Do not play politics over the body of a child. Rahul Gandhi never visited a place twice but in Rohit Vermula case, he saw political opportunism," she said.
He said the Opposition is targeting her because she contested from Amethi constituency.
Defending the charges levelled by the opposition parties, who allege that her ministry pressured Rohith's University to punish the Dalit student days before he killed himself, Irani said, "I am taking it personally. And I will tell you why. This boy was used. I will give you proof."
She said the university council that suspended Rohit was appointed by the previous UPA government.
Coming to the JNU row, she said Rahul Gandhi could have asked me to go together to JNU to address the students and tell them how someone from the same varsity is laying down life so that they can live in free India.
"My request is help me build this nation and not destroy it from within."
Choking with emotion, she said, "I will not apologise for doing my duty."
The Education Minister also attacked Rahul Gandhi for supporting protests against students of the prestigious JNU being charged with sedition for an event where anti-India slogans were raised.
Irani earlier also countered BSP chief Mayawati over Vermula and said a Dalit does not need certification from Mayawatit to be a Dalit.
Refuting Mayawati on Rohit Vermula suicide, Irani said a Dalit has been made a member of the panel probing the cause of his death.
"I am willing to answer every question," said Irani reacting to Mayawati and opposition ruckus in Rajya Sabha that led to adjournments.
She said a member of the Dalit community is on the probe committee and asked Mayawati if a Dalit is not Dalit unless "she [Mayawati] certifies it".
Debating over the JNU row in the Lok Sabha and the suicide of Rohit Vermula, Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia on Wednesday tried to corner the government and said blacklisting the premiere university of 8,000 students for the actions of 8 students is 'unacceptable'.
"It is not acceptable that a university of 8,000 students blacklisted for the actions of 8 students," Scindia said.
Attacking the Centre, he said: "Union government and ministers are trying to encroach into varsities."
He said: "The government has the mindset of damaging people who hold different mindset from them."
Scindia raising the issue of Rohit Vermula said: "The thinking of this government is...My way or the highway."
Both the Houses of the Parliament are debating the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) episode and Rohit Vermula's death in Hyderabad University to corner the Narendra Modi government.
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