Latching on to the revocation of suspension of four Dalit scholars of Hyderabad University, Congress today demanded immediate sacking of HRD Minister Smriti Irani and Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya and an apology by the Prime Minister for Irani's "misconduct".
"Belated decision of Hyderabad Central University to revoke the suspension of four dalit Ph.D. Scholars (colleagues of deceased Rohith Vemula) proves the guilt, complicity and collusion of BJP-ABVP-University authorities in perpetuating anti-poor, anti-dalit agenda on the University campus".
"Regrettably, had this decision been taken prior to 17th January, 2016; Rohith Vemula would have been alive today," party's chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala said in a strongly- worded statement.
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He said that the decision to revoke order confirmed the "lies, deception and falsehood" meted out by the HRD Minister.
"It also establishes the completely illegal and unconstitutional pressure used by HRD Ministry earlier leading to suspension of five dalit Ph.D. Scholars and consequent suicide of Rohith Vemula", he said.
Besides, he claimed that it "confirmed" the role of Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya; BJP MLC Ramachandra Rao; ABVP activists; University Vice-Chancellor Appa Rao and others.
Congress, he said, therefore, demands that Irani and Dattatreya as also Appa Rao should be immediately sacked.
He wanted a sitting High Court judge to inquire into the role of Irani, Dattatreya and University authorities.
Fair and adequate compensation along with a job should be given to the family of Rohith, he said, adding that "above all, Prime Minister Narendra Modi must apologize to the Nation."
Earlier in the day at a press conference, he stepped up the attack on the HRD Minister demanding that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with his ministerial colleagues should apologise to the nation and dalits for her "misconduct of misleading the nation"
"...Irani is lying through her teeth in a bid to protect the ABVP leader. She is misleading the nation by giving false information," Surjewala said, seeking to dismiss the claims of Irani on the issue.
Irani had yesterday said that the ABVP leader, who was attacked in student rivalry earlier, also belonged to the OBC community as was Dattatreya, who had written a letter to her about the attack.
In the statement later, he said, "HRD Minister shockingly and shamelessly lied to the Nation, manufactured non-existent facts and misstated the complete set of events, purely with a view to defend the illegal intervention by her ministerial colleague, Shri Bandaru Dattatreya...".
Surjewala recalled that only yesterday the Vice
Chancellor publicly justified the suspension of the five dalit Ph.D. Scholars and defended HRD Ministry.
"Shockingly, HRD Minister, Ms Smriti Irani then held a press conference yesterday afternoon justifying the decision of University authorities qua suspension of five dalit Ph.D. scholars", he said.
He claimed that the HRD Minister "shamelessly" brushed aside the "overwhelming evidence" against ABVP activists relating to "social boycott" and use of "insulting and intemperate language" against dalit students on the campus.
Besides, he said she went to the extent of rejecting contents of letter dated December 18, 2015 addressed by Rohith and others to Vice Chancellor of University alleging "systematic persecution and humiliation" of dalit students besides demanding that either poison be administered or a rope be given to all dalit students to hang themselves in light of prevailing anti-dalit mindset.
Surjewala said that the "illegal" action of the University authorities against the five students followed five successive "unjustified" communications of HRD Ministry to University asking for action against them.
"All this stood exposed with the SC/ST Teachers Forum calling HRD Minister's statement as 'fabricated' and ten professors and Medical Officer of the University resigning today from all administrative responsibility", he said.
At the press conference, singling out Irani for attack, he said, "She is the custodian of all universities. She committed the unpardonable sin of lying to the nation. She spoke a number of lies to cover up a lie."
Surjewala said that by "shamelessly" justifying suspension of the 5 Dalit scholars, what is the justification now left of any fair or impartial enquiry.
"The truth is that the Education Minister has hoodwinked the country, has misled the country", he told reporters.
He demandned that action should be taken against the Vice Chancellor as also against Dattatreya and also BJP MLC Ramchandra Rao and they should be arrested in the case.
Besides, he wanted "fair and adequate" compensation be given to the family of Rohith and a job given.
Dattatreya and Hyderabad University Vice Chancellor Appa Rao and three others have been named in an FIR lodged with the Cyberabad police over the alleged suicide of 26-year-old PhD scholar Rohith who was found hanging at the Central University's hostel room on the campus on Sunday.
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi has also targeted Irani and Dattatreya, saying the ministers and the VC have "not acted fairly" that forced the Dalit scholar to take the extreme step.
