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Backing the agitating students of the Hyderabad university, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday called the suicide of a Dalit research scholar at the premier institute a "national shame" and accused the Centre of trying to indulge in "casteist politics".
Coming out all guns blazing against Humna Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani, the AAP leader -- addressing the agitating students -- said her statement on Wednesday about Rohith Vemula's death as well as subsequent agitation by university's students was a clear attempt to make it a caste issue for which she must apologise.
"Rohith was a very bright student. He was Dalit, but he did not come from reserved quota. He came on merit. When such bright students have to commit suicide, I think it is a shame on the entire nation and society," he said.
Demanding immediate sacking of the university's vice chancellor, Kejriwal said Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya's letter to HRD Msinister Smriti Irani seeking action against Ambedkar Students Association was an example of coming to judgement before enquiring about the issue.
"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."
Irani had on Wednesday alleged that a malicious attempt was being made to project it as a "Dalit versus non-Dalit issue to ignite passions" for political gains and strongly refuted allegations of interference or putting pressure on university authority to take action against the Dalit students.
Expressing solidarity with the students, Kejriwal said the whole country was with them and that whatever is needed will be done to ensure justice to them.
The Delhi chief minister said he offered to sit on a dharna to press for VC's sacking but the students have asked him not to do so as now the fight is to ensure justice to Vemula.
The Congress party too escalated its attack on the Centre on Thursday, demanding immediate sacking of Irani and Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya.
"...Irani is lying through her teeth in a bid to protect the ABVP leader. She is misleading the nation by giving false information," Congress chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala said, seeking to dismiss the claims of Irani on the issue.
Insisting that the HRD Minister "justified the unfairness" meted out to Rohith Vemula, who committed suicide, and four other suspended Dalit students, Surjewala 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."
"We demand that Union Minister Smriti Irani should be sacked for attempting to hide facts along with Union Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya, against whom an FIR has been lodged," he said, a day after the Congress seemed to have piped down its attack on the Centre.
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.
Alleging the Proctorial Board's report was changed due to pressure by BJP, Surjewala said, "Just on the basis of the ABVP leader's statement five Dalit PhD scholars were suspended."
He claimed that following pressure from the university authorities and the HRD Ministry, and statements of ABVP leaders, the Board was forced to overturn their decision.
Surjewala's remarks indicated that the main opposition party was stepping up its offensive on the issue. Only on Thursday, the Congress had climbed down from its demand for resignation of Irani in connection with the case but had insisted on a probe by a sitting high court judge against her.
"The culpability of Irani should be investigated by a sitting high court judge and the labour minister should be immediately sacked," another party spokesman Deepender Singh Hooda had said on Wednesday, when asked whether the party stood by its demand for sacking of Irani.
Tearing into the arguments put forth by the HRD minister, Surjwala said she spoke a "blatant lie" that the decision of the Proctorial Board declaring the five Dalit students not guilty was an "ex-parte decision".
He said that the security officer on duty and Dr Anupama Rao had appeared before the board.
Besides, he said Irani's claim that the executive council's sub-committee that justified punishment to Rohith and four other students had a dalit professor was not correct.
He said that the university's SC/ST Professor forum has stated that the statement of the minister was "false and fabricated".
"Third lie was when she justified hostel suspension of the students by saying that it was hostel warden's decision. Doesn't she know that warden only implements the decision of the University authorities and the executive council," Surjewala asked.