This Was Not A Caste Battle, Says Minister Smriti Irani On Hyderabad Suicide: Highlights

Human Resource and Development Minister Smriti Irani is addressing a press conference over the suicide of a 26-year-old researcher of the Hyderabad Central University.

Here are the highlights:

• As a mother and HRD minister, have conveyed my condolences to his family
• August clash between Ambedkar Students Association and another student  was not Dalit vs non-Dalit confrontation
• The first inquiry did not consult either party involved in August's clash at Hyderabad University
• Executive council took "lenient view" after students were found guilty of assault
• Warden of hostel who asked students to stop using hostel was from Dalit community
• High Court did not accept suspended students' appeal to access the hostel
• Executive Council members that decided punishment are nominees of previous government, not this government
• Want to add: There are some media debates that claim a suicide note left behind the student
• The local police gave a certified copy of the suicide note
• I have it here today, this doesn't mention any university official, national political organisation, any MP
• There have been malicious attempts to present this as caste vs caste issue. The matter is also subjudice in the High Court
• Suicide note does not mention any university official or national political organisation or MP
• Bandaru is not the only MP who has raised concerns. Hanumatha Rao Congress MP wrote on November 17
• He wrote -In the past 4 years, the earlier Vice Chancellor - there have been suicide of students from Telangana region
• He wants a probe ordered. Its an standard procedure. We have to ascertain facts from the ground
• We sent 6 reminder for Hanumantha Rao's letter, we cannot impose upon a University
• Let us not encourage any rumour mongering. I request let us be extremely responsible
• It is easy to ignite passions and then regret at leisure. My attempt is an appeal that this is not a Dalit vs non Dalit
• This is in accordance to facts provided by Police and University. I have done this in public interest
• We have sent a fact-finding team recognising it is the jurisdiction of the state government
• My request is only this, I can understand political parties want to express their shock and grief
• Congress MP had raised the issue of students committing suicide. Why was this issue not taken up then and why now
• It could be their political compulsion, boy beaten up was also OBC
• It is not in favour of students or in favour of their (protesting students) parents who have sent them to study with high hopes
• Facts that I have put out have been ascertained by the local police and University
• Today the ministers sitting before you have come with facts not conjecture
• Wrong information, misconstrued information, for that matter misrepresentation
• Congress does not know how to look at procedure
• When an MP communicates to us, we have to seek facts from the University
• Congress wants to shoot politically on this issue. It is expected but unfortunate
• The letter from the Congress MP reiterates that this is not a new problem
• It persisted during the Congress rule also, if they had fixed this 4 years ago, possibly Rohith would have been alive today