BJP accuses Oppn of exploiting sentiments of Radhika Vemula; Radhika denies

New Delhi: The BJP on Wednesday accused the Opposition of “exploiting the sentiments” of Radhika Vemula, mother of scholar Rohith Vemula whose suicide in 2016 had led to a major political row.

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal cited reports that Ms. Vemula had accused the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a Kerala-based party, of not giving her the promised sum of Rs 20 lakh to attend political rallies, where much of the rhetoric was anti-BJP.

Noting that Congress president Rahul Gandhi had shared the stage with Ms. Vemula, Mr. Goyal demanded that it should be found out what promises were made to her. “The Congress president should apologise,” he said, claiming that Opposition parties have been unmasked for their politics based on lies.

“How long will Opposition parties continue with such abhorrent tactics for petty political gains? The condition of the family [the Vemulas] was not good and she was promised money for political reasons so that she could share the stage with Opposition leaders and level allegations,” Mr. Goyal said at a press conference.

The BJP condemned this low level of politics and political misuse of such an incident, Mr. Goyal added.

Rohith Vemula, a Ph.D. scholar at the University of Hyderabad, committed suicide on the campus on January 17, 2016. Opposition parties placed the blame on harassment of Vemula by groups affiliated to the BJP and the RSS. The issue was raised in both Houses of Parliament.

Radhika refutes BJP contention

Radhika Vemula denied the BJP's allegations that she had accepted money from the IUML for speaking against the BJP and Prime Minister Nrendra Modi.

"This is...full of lies. Nobody paid me to criticise Prime Minister Narendra Modi or the BJP. I do hold them responsible for my son’s death," Ms. Radhika told NDTV.

“I only told an online media that the Indian Union Muslim League promised me some money to buy a house following my son’s death. But that was not for attending any rally or criticising the Prime Minister or the BJP, she said. She also clarified that even though the "IUML promised to provide me money, but tehy haven't used for political gains."

She further explained that the League had sent two cheques of Rs 2.5 lakhs each, but one of them bounced. When she spoke to the League, she was told that the money would be delivered directly, news agency ANI reported her to have said.

She added that organisers of the rallies made travel arrangements for her. "I still do my job (stitching clothes) for livelihood," she added.