Rohit's death: Not a Dalit vs non-Dalit issue

Union Minister for Human Resouce Development Smriti Irani addressed a media conference on Rohit Vemula issue on Wednesday. Here are the highlights of her address:

* CONDOLENCES: As a mother and a minister, I have conveyed my condolences to the family of Rohit Venula, the research scholar who ended his life.
* NOT A DALIT ISSUE: The issue is not Dalit vs non-Dalit. The August clash, where an ABVP worker was thrashed, was not a caste clash. The ABVP boy too was from OBC community. There have been malicious attempts to present this as caste vs caste issue. The matter is also subjudice in the High Court. Let us not encourage any rumour mongering. I request everyone to be extremely responsible.
* LEGACY OF PREVIOUS GOVT: The proctorial inquiry which was conducted after the August clash at the UoH did not consult either parties involved in the clash. A second committee found five students guilty. But, the Executive council took lenient view after students were found guilty of assault. The official who informed the students of their suspension was a Dalit and the hostel warden who asked them to leave the hostel too was a Dalit. Dalit teachers and police were kept in the loop about executive council decision. The  Executive Council members that decided punishment are nominees of previous government, not this government
* SUICIDE NOTE: The suicide not of Rohit Vemula, which is certified by the local police, doesn't mention any university official, national political organisation, any MP. The only organisation mentioned was Ambedkar Student Association.
 * VH's LETTER: Minister Bandaru Daatatreya is not the only MP who has raised concerns. Congress Rajya Sabha MP V Hanumatha Rao on November 17 wrote to the HRD minister that there were deaths of several students in the past 4 years, during the reign of the earlier Vice Chancellor, nad wanted a probe ordered. The problem persisted during the Congress rule also. If only they had fixed this 4 years ago, possibly Rohith would have been alive today.
* CONG POLITICISING: Congress wants to shoot politically on this issue. It is expected but unfortunate. Congress does not know how to look at procedures which were laid by its government. Those interested in fueling caste clashes were peddling wrong information, misconstrued information and misrepresentation.