The Budget Session on Wednesday got off to a stormy start in the Rajya Sabha after Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) members shouted slogans and disrupted proceedings demanding the inclusion of a Dalit member in the judicial committee probing Rohith Vemula’s death. BSP chief Mayawati also sought to have two separate debates on Rohith’s suicide and developments with regard to Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). After forcing repeated adjournments, she relented and agreed for a debate on Thursday after Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien assured the Government will respond to the demands during debate.
A Short Duration discussion will now take place on Thursday on the “Situation arising in the Central Institutions of higher education with specific reference to JNU and University of Hyderabad.” The motion for this was moved by CPI(M) member Sitaram Yechury.
The House saw raised tempers and verbal clashes between Mayawati and Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani who accused the Opposition parties of using a “dead child” (Rohith) as a political tool and strategy. “It is evident before the entire nation that this charge is nothing but a political strategy. It is nothing, but a political tool for them. They are not interested in justice,” Irani charged at the protesting members.
She urged Mayawati to start discussion so that she can present facts and clear doubts. “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,” Irani said.
However, Mayawati slammed the Government saying it was neglecting the serious issue of Rohith and continued pressing for an answer as to whether a Dalit would be included in the committee probing the student’s death. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi responded saying all these issues could be answered when the Minister replies to the proper debate. “Are we saying to this country that a judge’s capacity to deliver justice will depend on his caste nowIJ Are we saying that a particular judge is to be demeaned because of the caste he belongs toIJ” Irani responded.
But the BSP demanded resignations of Irani, Union labour Minister Bandaru Dattatrey and the Vice Chancellor of Hyderabad University. “Since the BJP came to power at the Centre, nefarious means are being used to impose RSS ideology,” Mayawati said, adding that prestigious institutions like Hyderabad University, Aligarh Muslim University, Jamia Milia and JNU were being interfered with. On her demand for inclusion of Dalit member in the probe committee, Mayawati alleged that the NDA Government was waiting for a “signal from Nagpur” (indicating at RSS headquarters) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Mayawati termed Rohith’s incident as an insult to 25 crore Dalits.
Earlier, leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said Rohith’s suicide is a national issue and will not allow it to be diluted and his party was ready for discussion. Kurien asked Yechury to initiate but the left leader could not speak due to slogans by BSP members forcing a disappointed Kurien to say “protesting members were holding the House to ransom”.