Delhi/Hyderabad: In the backdrop of massive protest across the country over suspended Dalit student suicide case in Hyderabad, the Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani on Monday distanced herself from the controversy and said that she will not give any political statement.
Speaking exclusively to CNN-IBN, Irani said, "I don't want to make any political statement since law and order was a state subject. Government will not intervene."
"It is not a time for political blame game. It is an unfortunate incident and I express my condolences to the family who lost their son. We have sent a two-member team from the ministry who will apprise us on what prompted the student to take the extreme step," she said.
"I have sent two-member fact finding team to University of Hyderabad. I will give my reaction after receiving the fact finding panel's report," the minister said.
She also clarified that the union government doesn't intervene in the administration of universities.
Meanwhile, a case has been registered against Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya and the University's Vice-Chancellor Appa Rao under the SC/ST Act.
Sources said, in 2015, Dattatreya had written to the HRD Ministry seeking action against Rohith Vemula - the victim - and four other Dalit students for allegedly attacking an Akhil Bharatiya Vishwa Parishad (ABVP) activist.
However, Dattatreya sensing trouble on Monday distanced himself from the suicide case and said his letter has nothing to do with it.
"My letter has no connection with the suicide case of the Dalit student. I have written letter because some anti-social elements who were attacking ABVP members. I would not like to comment on the case against me."
Rohith, was one of the five Dalit scholars, expelled by the university in 2015 for allegedly attacking a student activist belonging to ABVP in August 2015.
He was doing his PhD in science technology and society studies for the past two years. on Sunday, he locked himself in a hostel room and committed suicide.
Since morning, protests broke out outside the HRD ministry in Hyderabad. The agitators demanded stern actions against the VC and Dattatreya for forcing the scholar to commit take such a drastic step.
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