Rohith Vemula suicide: Rahul Gandhi playing politics on dead bodies, says BJP

BJP national spokesperson Sambi Patra accused Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi of politicising death of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula.

New Delhi: BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra on Saturday launched an attack on Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi over his hunger strike on death of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula and accused him of politicising the issue.

"Rahul Gandhi and responsibilities don't go together. The Congress vice-president is known to shun his own responsibilities and gatecrash into other's protest. His visit to Hyderabad University today proved that he is trying to score brownie point by politicising Rohith Vemula's death. He should stop playing politics on dead bodies," Sambit Patra said.

"Rahul has been selective on issues. He maintained a complete silence on Malda riots and Bihar engineers' deaths and didn't mince a single word. When Pathankot attack took place, Mr Gandhi was holidaying in Europe. He comes back after 10 days and puts the blame on government," BJP national spokesperson Patra said.

Adding further, Patra said, "Rahul Gandhi should start working in a positive way rather than playing politics on dead bodies. Disruption in parliament and disturbance in society is guiding line of Congress."

Meanwhile, Congress dismissed the charge made by BJP on Rahul Gandhi and said that there is no politics in Congress vice-president's visit to the Hyderabad University. "Students are the lifeline of the country and this is the reason why Gandhi joined them in their protest on Rohith Vemula's death," a Congress leader said.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi today participated in a hunger strike to demand justice for Dalit student Rohith Vemula , who had committed suicide at Hyderabad University on January 17.