Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi and HRD Minister Smriti Irani were on Friday locked in a spat after protests by NSUI workers outside her official residence over derecognition of a student group by IIT Madras.
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi and HRD Minister Smriti Irani were on Friday locked in a spat after protests by NSUI workers outside her official residence over derecognition of a student group by IIT Madras.
While Rahul said the derecognition was aimed at "crushing dissent" and he will fight such attempts, Irani shot back challenging him for a debate on the issue of governance, including education, and accused him of fighting his battles hiding behind NSUI. "IIT student group banned for criticising the Modi Government. What next? Free speech is our right. We will fight any attempt to crush dissent and debate," Rahul said on the twitter account of his office.
Replying to him in a series of tweets, Irani said, "next time fight ur (your) battles ur (your)self, don't hide behind NSUI. N (And) by d (the) way I'm returning to Amethi soon. See you there." Challenging Rahul, she said, "give me a time n (and) place n (and) I'm ready to debate everything re (regarding) governance including education." She added, "tell ur (your) men strong arm tactics were tried in Amethi n (and) didn't scare me during Lok Sabha elections. They won't scare me now."
She also said, "yesterday u (you) told NSUI to create disorder where there is order. Today ur (your) goons come to my house as I'm away at work." The political slugfest erupted after the Indian Institute of Technology Madras was at the centre of controversy over derecognition of a students group, many of whom are Dalits, following a complaint that it was critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Irani backed IIT's action, saying the institution has clearly stated that some procedures by the students' organisation was not followed and it knew that Dean will derecognise it for violating norms. Scores of NSUI workers today protested outside Irani's official residence in Delhi over the issue. The protesters from Congress' students wing raised anti-government slogans and accused the HRD Ministry of being behind the action against the body.
Reacting sharply to her attack on Rahul Gandhi, Congress on Friday hit back at Smriti Irani alleging that due to "sycophancy" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi the HRD Minister had no time left for her ministry.
"She is going to Amethi and making strong statements against Rahul Gandhi to do sycophancy of Modi. So she is not getting time to run the ministry," AICC general secretary Ambika Soni said at AICC briefing. She alleged that the directors of IITs and IIMs are a harassed lot and there is a controversy in the IIT Chennai.
"Instead of giving certificates to others, she should look at how the institutions under her ministry are run," Soni said. NSUI chief Roji M John said that the HRD minister has made a "mockery" of her ministry and her cabinet portfolio is under "threat" and alleged that attacking Rahul Gandhi is her "only survival tactic".
Attacking Irani for daring Rahul for a debate, the NSUI chief raked up the issue of her educational qualification saying considering this she should be "debating a child". "Smriti Irani is facing stern opposition from various academicians, vice chancellors, teaching fraternity. She has made a mockery of the HRD Ministry due to which her cabinet portfolio is under threat. She was removed from the BJP National Executive for her non-performance.
"Now it is but obvious that attacking Rahul Gandhi is her only survival tactic to keep her bosses, especially the Prime Minister happy," John said in a statement. He further said,"considering her qualifications, she should be debating a child but then due to her insistence, I challenge her to an open debate.
"For someone like her who knows nothing about educational institutions and student movements, I would like to point out that India's independence was won on the shoulders of the student and youth movement," the NSUI chief said.
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