Opposition using Dalit suicide for cheap political gains: Venkaiah Naidu

KANYAKUMARI: Hitting out at Congress and other opposition parties over the alleged suicide of a Dalit research scholar at Hyderabad University, Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu today said they were using the opportunity for cheap political advantage.

"Congress and the opposition parties are using the opportunity for cheap political advantage," he told reporters here.

Rejecting the opposition's allegations against the Centre and Union Minister Badaru Dattatraya, who has been made an accused in the suicide case, Naidu said the central government as well as the ministers have nothing to do with the alleged suicide.

"Even the suicide note of the boy does not say anything to that effect," he said.

Naidu claimed that eight students have committed suicide at the university when the UPA government was in power and nobody was now talking about it now.

"Congress is following a 5D policy of defame, disinformation, divert attention, delay development and disrupt Parliament and thus derailing progress of the country," he said.

He appealed to the opposition to shed its "negative and destroying role" and help pass important bills, including the GST and Real Estate bills "which will be a big boost to the economy of the nation", in the coming Budget session of Parliament.

He said the entire world was turning towards India as an attractive investment destination and this was reinforced by major CEOs at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Noting the Union government was giving top priority for investment in infrastructure, agriculture and social security measures, Naidu said the policy of the government was appeasement to none and justice for all.

Later, Naidu visited the Vivekananda Rock Memorial and offered tributes.

Talking to reporters at the rock memorial, the minister said Swami Vivekananda was instrumental in taking our culture, heritage and dharma across the globe.

"Swami Vivekananda's teachings and preachings are guidance to the man kind," he said.

Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan was also present on the occasion.