At the Hyderabad Central University, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal attacked union minister Smriti Irani over her statement on the suicide of research scholar Rohith Vemula and alleged that she spoke “one lie after another.”
While addressing the students at the UoH campus here today, the Delhi Chief Minister said Irani’s name should be included in the FIR already filed by the police on the university Vice-Chancellor, the Union Minister of State, B Dattatreya, and two others.
Kejriwal slammed the Centre accusing them of making Rohith’s death a caste issue. He demanded that the Centre should expedite the delivery of justice.
He said, “When bright students like Rohith have to commit suicide, it is a shame on the society.”
Kejriwal said, “Smriti Irani made this a Dalit vs non-Dalit issue. This is a question of justice and irrespective of whether a person is Dalit vs non-Dalit, Smriti Irani should get him justice.”
“It is shameful that a responsible minister without inquiring into the facts has already concluded that Ambedkar Students Association is casteist. He mentioned three words about the students — anti-national, casteist and extremist,” said Kejriwal.
He said the students were considered innocent till Dattatreya intervened.
Kejriwal said anyone who discusses Ambedkar’s thoughts can never be casteist and anti-national, saying there can be “nothing more national than that”.
Kejriwal accused Irani of misleading the country on the issue saying “attempts are being made to paint it as a caste issue. Irani must apologise for trying indulge in casteist politics.”
He further said “her statement was disgraceful. She spoke lies after lies. She was even trying to create confusion over his (Rohith) caste.”
