New Delhi :
The mother and brother of Rohith Vemula, the Dalit PhD scholar who committed suicide at Hyderabad Central University, today met senior CPI leaders and BSP leader Mayawati here to press for a law for ending caste-based discrimination on educational campuses.
“His mother (Radhika), brother (Raja) and other suspended HCU students came to our party office. They want a central law to end discrimination at campuses. Our party appreciates the idea. We will take up the issue in Parliament,” CPI national secretary D Raja said.
Besides the Rajya Sabha member, Rohith’s family members met CPI general secretary S Sudhakar Reddy.
Earlier, they had called on Congress President Sonia Gandhi, CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury and JD(U) leader KC Tyagi with a similar demand.
The issue of privilege motion against HRD Miniter Smrit Irani created a brief uproar in the Lok Sabha before Finance Minister Arun Jaitely started presenting the Union Budget 2016-17 today.
Opposition members were on their feet seeking to know the status of their notices against Irani for “misleading” the House on the Rohith Vemula issue.
“I have received notices raising the question of privilege dated February 26 and 29 respectively against Smriti Irani. The matter is under my consideration,” Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said, seeking to pacify the Opposition.
After the brief uproar and Mahajan’s statement, order was restored and Jaitley began his budget speech.
Congress, Left and the JDU had announced plans of bringing a Privilege Motion against Irani, who is in the eye of a storm following her remarks in Parliament on the issue last week.
