Suicide committed HCU student, Rohith Vemula’s mother Radhika has accused Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani of spreading “blatant lies” in Parliament, about her comments on Rohith’s death.

Radhika along with Rohith’s brother Raja and friend Dontha Prashanth, addressed a press conference and responded to the several observations, Smriti Irani had made in Parliament and urged her to stop the baseless misrepresenting facts.

Rohith’s mother further demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take action against Irani and her cabinet colleague Bandaru Dattatreya and also warned to decimate BJP to the ground, if he don’t.

Dattatreya is targeted for writing multiple letters to Irani against Rohith earlier, alleging anti-national activities.  

Radhika said, “There is no bigger insult to a mother than her son being called anti-national. At Ambedkar University, Narendra Modi referring to Rohith said, that India has lost a son. This is the same son that his Cabinet Minister Bandaru Dattatreya has called anti-national. If he believes this, why has he not taken action against Bandaru Dattatreya and Smriti Irani.”

Denying the allegations of HRD minister, who said that, Rohith was not supported by any doctors, for a long time after his death, Vemula’s friend said, “This is false and malicious on the part of the honourable HRD Minister. On the day that Rohith passed away, his body was discovered at 7pm and Dr Rajshree arrived at the spot at around 7:30. Second, the suggestion that no police were present is ludicrous. There is video evidence on Facebook of police being present on campus. Circle Inspector Gachibowli, Ramesh, had arrived on campus by around 7.30 pm.”

Prashanth further denied the allegations of Irani, who said HCU Chief Warden Nagaraju was part of the inquiry committee conducted to look into Rohith’s issue.  

“Our chief warden was never a part of the enquiry, this is yet another false claim and there will be administrative proof of the fact that he was never part of the enquiry committee,” he said.

Irani allegedly said that, the government had no role to play in the appointment of the executive committee that suspended Rohith and his four friends. Cornering minister for these statements, Prashanth said, “This is also false. Her government and not the former appointed the Executive Council headed by the vice chancellor Appa Rao Poddile. She also lied about there being an SC member on the council. There was never an SC member on this council.”

About the stipend allegations on Rohith by the HRD minister, Prashanth said, “Rohith’s letter was proof of the fact that this was false. He had not received his stipend for seven months and was unable to send money home. The committee that suspended us banned us from administrative places, common places and our hostel rooms and till the suspension was revoked we were staying outside the campus and sometimes on the road. We did not have access to the food that the university hostel gave us either at that point in time.”

Adding to the ongoing issue, Rohith’s another friend Vijay Kumar said, “We have all faced incredible humiliation already, yet the honorable minister continues to lie and make theatrical comments in Parliament. We are aware that she used to be an actor, but it’s time she stopped acting and started telling the truth about this matter.”

Rohith’s brother, Raja Vemula said, “Irani ji, this the real world and we as a family have lost Rohith and his grandmother. Our grandmother died because of harassment by the police who perpetually questioned our caste identity. The police is not competent to enquire about caste, only the district magistrate is. Both, my mother and I have already deposed our magistrate and proved our caste. We have our SC certificates to prove the same.”

By Phani Ch