New Delhi:
Union Minister Smriti Irani seemed both emotional and aggressive in Parliament on Wednesday as she countered the Opposition for targeting her on the suicide of Hyderabad research scholar Rohith Vemula.
"My name is Smriti Irani. I challenge you to ask me my caste," she said. Irani also rubbished allegations that Rohith was persecuted because he was a Dalit.
"No one can raise a finger against me on this issue. I am taking it personally," she said.
"Have you ever seen Rahul Gandhi go to one spot twice? Never. But in this, he saw political opportunity," said the minister.
"Our children are not vote-banks," she said.
Rohith Vemula was found hanging at the hostel room of the Hyderabad Central University last month. He allegedly committed suicide days after being banned from the campus for allegedly attacking an activist of ABVP.
Smriti Irani refuted allegation that she had forced the university to take action against Rohith with several letters after being approached by Bandaru Dattatreya, who wrote her.
"I did my job and I will not apologise. Communications received from MPs should be attended to promptly," she said, alleging that she had received similar letters from opposition members too.
