Parl panel to ask Irani to explain her remarks on Vemula issue

A Parliamentary panel examining CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury’s privilege motion against HRD minister Smriti Irani on Wednesday decided to seek an explanation from her over her remarks made during a Rajya Sabha debate on the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) row and Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula’s suicide.

With Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari admitting the privilege motion against Irani, the House committee could summon and question Irani. However, the committee is learnt to be inclined to seek a written response from the minister first.

The committee, headed by senior Congress leader PJ Kurien, also decided to write to the Delhi police to beef up the security of Yechury in the wake of he receiving threatening calls and derogatory messages for his participation in a discussion in the House on the day – February 26 – when Irani made the remark.

“The committee has decided to seek an explanation from the Union Minister on why did she make a reference to Hindu goddess Durga during the debate and why she made some remarks quoting Yechury, which he has denied having said,” sources in the committee said.  They added: “It has also decided to direct the police for immediate action to pin down those who issues threats to the CPI-M leader. The committee has also suggested that Yechury should be given proper security and will write to Delhi police in this regard.”