Congress today dismissed as "crocodile tears" Prime Minister Narendra Modi voicing his grief over the suicide of Rohith Vemula, saying he has failed to utter a word on any action against Union ministers Smriti Irani and Bandaru Dattatreya.
"We all respect the Prime Minister. We humbly want to say that shedding crocodile tears will not return Rohith Vemula or do justice" to the situation arising out of the suicide of the dalit scholar in Hyderabad University, party's chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala told reporters.
Dubbing the HRD minister as the "biggest culprit" in the matter, he said that the Prime Minister has "disappointed" the whole country by "not uttering a word about any disciplinary action, any legal action" against Irani and Dattatreya.
"The Prime Minister has poured cold water on hopes of a concrete action by not sacking Irani, Dattatreya and the Vice Chancellor," he said adding that "shedding crocodile tears or turning sentimental" do not help in addressing the problem of injustice against Dalits.
Singling out Irani for attack, he lamented that the "person who is herself guilty has not found time to go the University and meet mother and family members of Rohith".
Alleging that the government was shielding those in the ABVP and others known for their anti-Dalit attitude, he wanted Prime Minister to apologise to dalit youths for failing to protect them.
Surjewala's sharp reaction came close on the heels of Prime Minister breaking his silence on the issue in Lucknow and voicing his grief over the suicide.
The Congress leader also dismissed HRD Ministry's decision to constitute a judicial commission and orientation programmes.
"It is a shoddy attempt to brush aside the fundamental issues leading to the suicide of Rohith Vemula in Hyderabad Central University," he said.
Another senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal took to Twitter to attack the Prime Minister on the issue.
"Too little too late Mr Modi. If you feel the mother's pain show how you will make amends considering the conduct of your Ministers," he tweeted.
At the Congress briefing earlier, party General Secretary Mukul Wasnik lambasted the government for its conduct in the matter.
"To add fuel to the fire and belittle the memory of Rohith, Vice-Chancellor Appa Rao, instead of being sacked, is additionally appointed as Acting Chairperson of 'National Council of Rural Institutes' by HRD Ministry," he said.
Wasnik regretted that "all this is done despite fresh
evidence suggesting that the letter dated December 18, 2015, written by Rohith to Vice-Chancellor, had been duly received by the Vice-Chancellor, who chose to take no action whatsoever".
Apart from Congress, even BJP's own Dalit leaders, MPs and allies are putting the blame squarely at its doorsteps and demanding a fair probe, he added.
Surjewala insisted that the "first pre-condition for a fair, independent and impartial probe by a sitting high court judge is sacking of Irani and Dattatreya; sacking of VC Apparao, action against BJP MLC Shri Ramchandra Rao and ABVP activists".
Arrests should be made of all accused named in the FIR, he said, adding that it is only thereafter, that an "equitable and trustworthy" probe can be held that will inspire confidence of the entire student community including the dalit and underprivileged sections.
"Tragically, HRD Minister Smriti Irani has belatedly remembered to offer telephonic condolences only on January 22 i.E, 6 long days after the tragic death of Rohith," he added.
The suicide by Rohith has kicked up a major row with Irani and Dattatreya coming under intense attack from political rivals, who have blamed them for the incident and demanded their removal.
Speaking as the chief guest at the convocation ceremony of the B R Ambedkar University in Lucknow, Modi said, "...When there is news that a youth of my country, Rohith, was compelled to commit suicide, what his family must have gone through. Mother India has lost a son. There will be reasons, there will be politics (surrounding it) but the fact remains that a mother has lost her son. I feel the pain very well."
His speech was marred by protest by two students who were evicted by police as they shouted slogans like "Modi murdabad" and "Modi go back, Modi go back".
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Wasnik did not attach much importance to a question that Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has not uttered a word on the Rohith suicide issue.
He said that it must be understood that the Hyderabad police, who registered an FIR in the matter, functions under the Telangana government.
