'Shameless' BJP diverting people's attention by questioning Rohith's caste: Congress

Congress Party on Monday lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Government at the Centre for questioning the caste of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula, who had committed suicide in University of Hyderabad, and said the saffron party was trying to divert the attention of the people from the core issue.

"Such a big incident has taken place and the government, instead of inquiring the incident, is trying to divert the attention of the people. They are questioning the caste of Rohith, which is very shameful," Congress leader P.L. Punia told ANI here.

"Rohith's father had left the family and it is his mother who has raised the kids. Everyone has certificate, Rohith has a certificate, and based on that he has been given admission in the university," he added.

He asked why BJP was investigating Rohith's caste on its own when no questions have been raised about it by anyone.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had on Saturday said that Rohith was not a Dalit.

"The facts have come out in the case and as per as my complete knowledge, that student (Rohith) was not a Dalit. By calling him a Dalit student, this whole case has been raised a communal incident by some people," Swaraj said.

Rohith, a PhD student at the university, committed suicide by hanging himself in his room.

He was among the six research scholars, suspended by the Hyderabad Central University (HCU) in August last year in connection with an alleged attack on an ABVP leader.

The HCU has already revoked suspension of the four students, following uproar over his suicide.