NEW DELHI: Union minister Smriti Irani, citing a Jawaharlal Nehru University report on Wednesday, said that JNU student "Umar Khaild misled the university administration saying that he was organising a poetry reading event".
"Umar Khalid misled the JNU administration. He said in an application form that he was organising poetry reading," said Irani in the Lok Sabha during a discussion.
She also said Dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula's body was used as a political tool.
"In his statement, Rohith Vemula said that no one was responsible for his death. No attempt was made to take Rohith Vemula to doctor, his body was used as political tool," she added.
Taking a dig at Congress on the Rohith Vemula issue, Irani said: "The executive council that took the decision to suspend Rohith was appointed by Congress."
She further said: "I have said it time and again not to make education a battlefield. Have you ever seen Rahul Gandhi go to one spot twice? No, he saw a political opportunity here?"
"Even Indira Gandhi lost power, but his sons never supported the slogans raised advocating 'destruction of India'," Irani added.