TMC doing votebank politics over Dalit student's death: Smriti Irani

Durgapur: Union HRD minister Smriti Irani on Wednesday alleged that Trinamool Congress leaders visited Hyderabad after the dalit students' death due to vote-bank politics and lashed out at Mamata Banerjee government over Malda violence claiming it was "appeasing" minorities.

Addressing a public meeting, the BJP leader questioned why the Trinamool leaders did not visit Nadia in the state last year when an alleged incident of atrocities gainst Dalit women had occurred there last year.

"In 2015 when three Dalit women were tortured in Nadia district, nobody said anything. Mamata Banerjee was silent then," Irani said.

"TMC sent delegation to Hyderabad University to pursue vote bank politics. Why didn't they send a delegation to Nadia district then ? Why didn't Derek O'Brien go there?", the HRD Minister asked. A two-member TMC delegation led by its national spokesperson Derek O'Brien had visited Hyderabad University, where the body of dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula was found hanging in a hostel room in the campus on January 17.

Accusing the TMC government of indulging in "minority appeasement politics", Irani said "What is happening in Malda? In Malda a police station was burnt under the patronage of the ruling party and the police remained a mute spectator. What were they doing ? TMC is pursuing vote bank politics," she alleged.

Irani claimed that the state the government had "completely failed" in maintaining law and order situation which has led to increase in crime against woman.

"TMC had come to power saying they owe their victory to Ma, Maati and Manush (Women, Land and People). Now, when the women and the people are tortured in the state, they remain a mute spectator. "TMC is making a mockery of the dignity of women in Bengal. Women are being raped and the chief minister is fixing Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000 as compensation for them," she alleged. Turning to the issue of illegal mining in Asansol- Durgapur region, she alleged, "Though the TMC government speaks publicly against illegal mining, they actually encourage mine mafias and provide support in running the illegal mines."