The suicide of a scholar in Hyderabad Central University continued to trouble the BJP as its NDA ally LJP on Thursday sought an “independent probe by the CBI or some other agency” but was dismissive o
The suicide of a scholar in Hyderabad Central University continued to trouble the BJP as its NDA ally LJP on Thursday sought an “independent probe by the CBI or some other agency” but was dismissive of the Opposition demand for resignation of Union ministers Smriti Irani and Bandatru Dattatreya over it.
In an embarrassment for the BJP, its national executive member Sanjay Paswan demanded a CBI inquiry into the issue and accused Ms and Mr Dattatreya of showing “grave insensitivity” to the issue. Mr Paswan, who had once headed the BJP’s SC cell, said “the least” the government can do is to sack the university’s vice-chancellor. Asking the Prime Minister to make a statement on the issue, he attacked Mr Dattatreya for calling Rohith Vemula “anti-national” in his letter to the HRD ministry and added that Ms Irani too was responsible for “mishandling” the affair.
The political slugfest over the suicide, meanwhile, continued unabated with the Congress and other Opposition parties calling it a “national shame” and unrelenting in their demand for sacking of the two ministers. The Congress sought an apology by the Prime Minister for Ms Irani’s “misconduct”.
Making its stand clear on the issue, the LJP stuck to its demand for an independent probe even as the two-member team set up by the HRD ministry to look into the matter returned here Wednesday evening after visiting the campus and is expected to submit its report soon.
Party MP Ramchandra Paswan, who led an LJP delegation to Hyderabad and met students protesting against the incident, said that he had submitted the report to LJP chief and Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan Wednesday night.
The Union minister, however, parried questions on the issue leaving his younger brother Ram Chandra Paswan and son Chirag Paswan (both Lok Sabha MPs) to speak on it. Despite a volley of questions on the issue, Mr Paswan, who addressed a press conference at his residence, chose to restrict himself only to issues concerning his ministry. “We condemn the incident. There is anger among students, which is natural. Strong action should be taken against whoever is responsible for Rohith Vemula’s suicide,” Ramchandra Paswan said.
LJP parliamentary board chairman Chirag Paswan sought a thorough probe into the issue by “an independent investigating agency like CBI or any other body”.
“There is a need to find out what led to Rohith to take this extreme step. The probe should be carried out by some independent investigating agency — be it CBI or some other. I am not saying that only CBI should probe it. An indpendent probe should be carried out and then whoever is found responsible must be punished,” Chirag said. Asserting that a “strong message” should be sent on the issue, the LJP leader that all the facts must come out.
JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav described the suicide as a “national shame”.
