New Delhi: Rajya Sabha on Friday saw a face-off once again between Smriti Irani and Mayawati, with the BSP leader saying she was not convinced by HRD Minister's statement with regard to Rohith Vemula's suicide.
The issue related to the suicide by Vemula, a Dalit student of Hyderabad University, also led to a clash between Irani and CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury.
Mayawati, who has been demanding inclusion of a Dalit in the panel probing Vemula's death, slammed the government for appointing a one-man judicial Commission of former Allahabad High Court judge Ashok Kumar Roopanwal.
"To my question whether a Dalit member is part of the Commission, the government has not answered this so far. On February 24, I had asked this question and it has not been answered so far. Justice Roopanwal is from the upper caste. Government's intention is dubious on this," she said.
She added that as per the laws, the government can increase the strength of the commission, and add a Dalit member, but it has not done this so far, which shows its intentions towards the Scheduled Castes.
The former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said government's intentions are now clear and it is trying to save the accused "who are from the RSS".
On Wednesday too, the House had witnessed a clash between Irani and Mayawati over the same issue.
Yechury also took on Irani for quoting certain Facebook posts purportedly written by Vemula which were critical of the CPI(M) leader and accused her of making "all foul fair". He questioned the veracity of the Facebook account that she had claimed to be that of Vemula.
"Can a Facebook account be authenticated?... Can 'quotes' from the 'cyberspace' be permitted without the same being authenticated," he questioned and insisted that nothing should go on record in the House without it is authenticated.
Contending that he is n ot against any criticism, Yechury said the authenticity of Vemula's Facebook comments against him need to be ascertained.
"I have always said that let a hundred flowers bloom and let a thousand thoughts contend," he added.
At this, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley interjected, saying "every word" read out by Irani has been authenticated by the Registrar of the University.
Yechury said the government had got these authenticated by the Vice Chancellors and Registrars who are appointed by them.
The CPI (M) leader further said: "Yesterday she (Irani) quoted from Macbeth saying fair is foul and foul is fair. She is making all foul fair without giving any authentication."
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