The Rajya Sabha could not transact any business on Wednesday as frequent disruptions by BSP members over the suicide of dalit student Rohith Vemula led to repeated adjournments of the Upper House.
The Rajya Sabha could not transact any business on Wednesday as frequent disruptions by BSP members over the suicide of dalit student Rohith Vemula led to repeated adjournments of the Upper House. Tempers ran high as the House witnessed a clash between BSP supremo Mayawati and Union human resources development minister Smriti Irani.
Accusing the government of trying to “neglect” the issue, Ms Mayawati demanded inclusion of a dalit member in a committee that is probing Vemula’s death. However, Ms Irani accused the BSP of using a “dead child” (Rohith) as “a political tool and strategy” and offered to reply to all questions. “If the BSP leader was not satisfied, I am ready to behead myself and lay it at your feet,” Ms Irani said.
Ms Mayawati also dubbed the Vemula incident as an “insult to 25 crore dalits” in the country and wanted the resignations of two Union ministers over it, sacking of the vice-chancellor of Hyderabad University and the inclusion of a dalit member in the probe committee.
“Since the time BJP came to power at the Centre, nefarious means are being used to impose RSS ideology,” she said. The minister added that prestigious institutions like Hyderabad University, Aligarh Muslim University, Jamia Millia and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) were being interfered with.
She also attacked the Congress and said the suicide by Rohith was not the first case and that many dalit students had committed suicide in the past when the UPA was in power at the Centre. On her demand that a dalit be included in the probe committee, Ms Mayawati alleged that the NDA government was waiting for a “signal from Nagpur”, indicating RSS headquarters, as well as from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Amid sloganeering by BSP members, the HRD minister said the Opposition was using a “dead child” as “a political tool and strategy” and asked the opposition to start a discussion on the issue “right now”.
To Ms Mayawati’s persistent demands, Ms Irani said, “I am ready to reply to all questions. First you allow the discussion... You are senior to me. You are a woman. If you want, I am ready to reply. If you are not satisfied with my reply, I am ready to behead myself and lay it on your feet.”
Earlier in the day, an exasperated chairman Hamid Ansari remarked that disruption of Question Hour was a “violation of the privilege of individual members” and asked the agitating members “not to trample” over the privilege of their colleagues.
The trouble began as soon as the House met for the day with Ms Mayawati speaking about Vemula. Deputy chairman P.J. Kurien said the issue was already listed for a discussion later in the day and, if the House agreed, it could be taken up right away. He asked Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad and others, who agreed to take up the discussion right then. However, Ms Mayawati continued to speak, pressing for an answer to whether a dalit would be included in a committee probing Vemula’s death.
MoS for parliamentary affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said all these issues could be answered when the minister replied to a proper debate. At this, BSP members trooped into the Well and started shouting slogans, forcing an adjournment of 10 minutes.
Similar scenes prevailed and the House was adjourned repeatedly after meeting for brief periods. The House was finally adjourned for the day soon after 4 pm.
JD(U) leader K.C. Tyagi, in apparent support on the Rohith issue, called the HRD minister by a name which was expunged. However, Ms Mayawati accused him of playing into the hands of the BJP to take the focus away from such a serious issue.
The House was adjourned for the day after assurances from Mr Kurien and Mr Naqvi that Ms Irani would respond specifically to Ms Mayawati’s question after the conclusion of the discussion on Thursday.
Earlier in the day, an exasperated chairman Hamid Ansari remarked that disruption of Question Hour was a “violation of the privilege of individual members” and asked the agitating members “not to trample” over the privilege of their colleagues.
A visibly upset Mr Ansari, who went the extra mile to hold an all-party meeting days before the start of the session to ensure smooth functioning, said, “Disruption of the House is a violation of the privilege of individual members of the House. Do not trample the privilege of your colleagues.” Members from the Treasury benches welcomed Mr Ansari’s remarks.
