Delhi: HRD Minister Smriti Irani on Wednesday led government's charge in Parliament and made a forceful statement in Lok Sabha, saying that Kanhaiya Kumar and some other students had been found indulging in anti-national activities by the JNU authorities themselves.
She also took on the Opposition and made an emotional pitch with regard to the suicide by Dalit student Rohith Vemula of Hyderabad University.
The HRD Minister's speech was tweeted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the message - "Do hear this speech by Smriti Irani".
सत्यमेव जयते!
Do hear this speech by @smritiirani. https://t.co/1qPbKWbzUI
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 24, 2016
Meanwhile, Irani insisted today that her ministry had no role in Rohith's death and the deceased himself had said in his suicide note that nobody should be held responsible for his action.
Replying to the charged day-long debate on recent incidents in JNU and Hyderabad University during which the government faced Opposition onslaught, a combative Irani said she was being targeted by Congress for contesting against Rahul Gandhi in Amethi Parliamentary constituency.
At the same time Irani pointed out that during last 20 months as minister she tried to do justice to students by trying to address their complaints without asking for their "caste or religion".
Rejecting the charge of saffronising education, she said, she would quit politics if it was established she made any attempt to do so.
On the other hand, citing documents, she said, report by JNU's security people observed that some students were indulging in anti-national sloganeering even though the students had sought permission to hold a "poetry" event.
Those involved in the programme which include Umar Khalid, Kanhayia Kumar and others, she said, were suspended by the JNU authorities though they were allowed to stay on the campus till completion of the inquiry.
(With Agency inputs)
