Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)
Udupi, Jan 23: Senior Congress leader Janardhan Poojary on Saturday January 23 lashed out at BJP ministers over the suicide of Rohith Vemula, a Dalit research scholar in Hyderabad University, and termed the incident as 'murder of India's soul'. He also demanded the resignation of BJP minister Bandaru Dattatreya who has been booked in the case, and union HRD minister Smriti Irani for stating it was 'not a Dalit versus non-Dalit issue'.
Addressing a press meet here, Poojary said, "Rohith Vemula's death is murder of India's soul, it is a murder of humanity and of our culture. I welcome the statement of PM Narendra Modi on the issue, but the statements made by Smriti Irani are brainless. By saying it is not a Dalit versus non-Dalit issue, she is misleading the people.
"This is a conspiracy against Dalits. The truth is that untouchability still prevails in India in spite of several laws against it. India has so many religions, so tolerance and humanity are essential here.
There should be no untouchability today, it is the aspiration of the people. Several struggles have taken place against untouchability, but it still persists," he said.
"Earlier there was no practice of untouchability in temples, but today it has entered even educational institutions, and this is because of intolerance. Bandaru Dattatreya and Smriti Irani are engaging in cheap politics, they should be sacked from the cabinet," he demanded.
"PM Modi has given statements on the incident, but did he make any effort to visit the victim's house? Smriti Irani has no heart - she may be a good TV actor but this is a responsible position that she is holding. Such incident should wake up the government," he added.
On the suicide of a Dalit principal of a Kodagu college in Mangaluru, he lashed out at the state government and said, "Why did the state government not offer any solace? Why is it silent?"
On the controversial Yettinahole project, he said, "People's representatives are killing the Netravati river. The CM is silent. There are four ministers from this region but they are of no use."
Keshav Kotian, Sunil Bangera, Sunil Kappettu and Sujay Poojary were present.