Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala accused Piyush Goyal of "peddling fake news" about Vemula and his mother.
Image: PTI
The Congress on Wednesday demanded an apology from Union Minister Piyush Goyal for accusing the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) of using Hyderabad University student Rohith Vemula's family for political motives.
Terming it "utterly shameful", Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala, in a tweet, said Goyal was "peddling fake news" about Vemula and his mother in order to tarnish the memory of the Dalit student who committed suicide. "Culture and mindset of hounding and insulting SCs everyday has become the DNA of Modi government. Let government and minister apologise!" he added.
Utterly Shameful that Union Minister, Sh Piyush Goyal is peddling 'Fake News' qua Rohith Vemula & his mother in order to tarnish Rohith's memory.
Culture & Mindset of hounding and insulting SC's everyday has become the DNA of Modi Govt.
Let Govt & Minister apologise! https://t.co/nKRwn5BT2s— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) June 20, 2018
The BJP on Wednesday accused the IUML of using Vemula's family for political motives, with Goyal said he was "anxious" after the statement of the student's mother, claiming that the "IUML made false promises of providing a sum of Rs 20 lakh and asked her to address their rallies and misrepresent the unfortunate incident".
He also demanded that Congress president Rahul Gandhi apologise for indulging in such “petty politics”.
“I received information that even Congress President took them (Vemula’s family) to rallies and asked them to make statements. Rahul Gandhi should apologise for doing petty politics on pillar of lies,” Goyal claimed.
This came after TNM had reported earlier this week that a leader of the Indian Union Muslim League had promised Radhika Vemula that they would sanction Rs 20 lakh towards building a house for the family, shortly after Rohith's death, but was yet to fulfill the same.
Responding to the BJP statement, Radhika told TNM earlier, "Why will I speak after taking money? Does this Dalit woman look like she will speak after taking money? We have self respect. I don't have the need to do that. I don't need to take money to fight the BJP. My son has died and Prime Minister Modi and his Ministers have killed him. This is why I'm speaking. I will go and meet anyone who is against the BJP and say whatever I feel inside me. Even if they try to kill me."
Read: I don’t need money to speak against BJP, they killed my son: Radhika Vemula slams spin doctors
IANS inputs