Irani attacks Congress for using Vemula's suicide as 'political tool'

Accusing the main opposition of practicing "political opportunism" over Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula's suicide, Union Human Resource and Development Minister Smriti Irani on Wednesday sought to know as to where was Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi when more than 600 students died during the Telangana movement.

"Did Rahul go once? No. Have you ever seen Rahul Gandhi going to one spot twice? No, never. He saw a political opportunity here," she said.

"Today I am being accused of discrimination. One student dies and there is political battle over it. In my 20 months as minister, I have served my country, people without any prejudice. I did my duty, and I won't apologise for it," said Irani in response to Vemula's suicide in Parliament's Budget Session.

"Indira Gandhi too lost in elections, but her son never supported anti-India slogans," she added.

She further said that she would retire from politics if any vice-chancellor of the Indian Universities accuses her of saffronising education.

"I have been accused that with which authority, do I write letters to Universities? Just because I contested from Amethi, you would crucify me," she added.