Smriti Irani's statements on Rohith Vemula suicide 'confusing': Shiv Sena

Mumbai: Expressing its disappointment over the handling of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula's suicide, the Shiv Sena on Saturday said Union Human Resource and Development (HRD) Minister Smriti Irani's statements were 'confusing'.

"The kind of statements that the HRD Minister is giving is confusing. First, you say something, later you withdraw, this should not have happened. The way this issue has been handled, it had several shortcomings and that is why its repercussions are felt in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha," Shive Sena leader Manisha Kayande told ANI.

"The way this issue of Rohith Vemula's suicide has been handled, be it the HRD ministry, be it the Hyderabad University there has been lot of Hullaballoo," she added.

She further said that the wrong statements without any observation sends wrong signal.

When asked was the HRD Minister being deliberately dragged in the controversy, Kayande said Irani has hurried to make statements which could have been avoided.

"The reference of Durga in Parliament was out of context and it could have been avoided," she added.

Irani had earlier in Parliament pointed out that according to a report submitted to the Telangana High Court, the police had reached Rohith's hospital at 7:20 pm when they found the body.

"The police said that when they reached the hostel, they found the room open and the dead body was on the table. A hand written suicide note was found. The suicide note that was left behind does not blame anyone," she said.

"This is not my submission. This is what the police said. No one allowed a doctor near this child, to revive this child. Instead, his body was used as a political tool. No police was allowed till 6.30 a.m. the following morning. Who tried to help this child?" she asked.

However, Chief Medical Officer M. Rajshree, who confirmed Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula's death, has rebuffed HRD Minister Smriti Irani's claims in Parliament, saying she had reached the scene in three-five minutes.