'Smriti Irani jhooth ki rani' slogans raised outside HRD minister's house

Scores of National Students' Union of India supporters on Saturday protested outside Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani’s residence demanding her resignation for allegedly spreading “blatant lies” on the events surrounding death of Dalit student Rohith Vemula.

The students’ wing of the Congress also condemned Irani’s reference to “Mahishasura” in her speech alleging that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is trying to paint the entire nation with the ideology of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

They targeted Irani for her “ferocious” approach in the House. Slogans such as “Saas bahu sansad me chalana band karo” and “Smriti Irani jhooth ki rani” were raised against her.

“Irani is lying blatantly in the Parliament. She should understand that she was not addressing a BJP rally or acting in a TV serial. She has insulted the Parliament and the Constitution,” Roji M John, NSUI president, said.

Congress and Communist Party of India-Marxist will bring a privilege motion against the HRD minister in the Parliament for “misleading” it on the Rohith issue, both the parties have announced.

The activists also held up banners and placards with messages such as “Stop insulting Rohith” and vowed to continue with protests until Irani “resigns”.