Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for exploiting the death of University of Hyderabad PhD scholar Rohith Vemula for political gain, instead of allowing law enforcement agencies to conduct their investigation into the matter.
Nirmala Sitharaman, while speaking to students at Deccan College in Pune, responded to a question regarding political parties, including the ruling party, interfering in research institutes and how freedom of thought can be preserved, Sitharaman responded with, “I don’t think this is the issue at all. There is speculation that the government may not support some research–no, not at all. Every research is fine but the research must be data-based and data-driven with regression methodology. It has no political agenda underlined. Research should be research but if there are political agendas, there would be political responses too from the ruling party or any other party.”
“I tell with an example that came yesterday, Rohith Vemula. In an unforunate incident, without allowing the university to handle it with sensitivity, the case was dragged to the streets of India, and a narrative was built that this government is suppressing, this government is not allowing students and is against the SCs. Today, the same people who dragged the unfortunate family on the street should stand up before the entire country and apologise for politicising the incident,” she added.
She added that the toxic influence of the narrative, which was shaped, did not originate from the government, but rather from individuals with vested interests.
“The left-liberal groups and leaders in the opposition, who say ‘mohabbat ki dukan’, actually perpetrated this problem, spoke so badly, and spoke also in the Parliament about his interpretation,” the Finance Minister said.
“The allegations were levelled against the then education minister and the government because the university happened to be the central university. Political interference, intorlence, and hate lie not with the government but with the vested interest groups, who do not lose any opportunity to bring toxins,” she added.
“Rohith Vemula had dignity that has to be respected, dragging him and his mother in the name of protecting the Dalit cause. We all respect the Dalit cause; the reservation given by the constitution is affirmative support,” Sitharaman said.
Hitting out at Rahul Gandhi, the Finance Minister said,” Speaking in the parliament was the worst example. The issue was dragged along without allowing law and enforcement agencies to do their jobs; the matter was given political colour and tone.”
Vemula, a PhD scholar at Hyderabad Central University, was discovered hanging from a ceiling fan in a hostel room on January 17, 2016. It was reported that he was distressed over disciplinary measures imposed on him by the university.