A huge row has started over the proposed visit of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to Hyderabad’s Osmania University.
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — Amid the tussle between Osmania university’s administration and student activists belonging to NSUI over Rahul Gandhi’s visit, the Telangana High Court directed the Vice-Chancellor of the university to reconsider the appeal filed by the students and allow for the Congress chief’s visit.
The vice-chancellor can issue any instructions he deemed necessary, said the court, according to media reports. However, the final decision rests with the vice-chancellor.
A huge row had started over the proposed visit of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to Hyderabad’s Osmania University.
Rahul Gandhi was expected to address the students at Osmania University, among other programmes during his two-day visit of Telangana.
But the university authorities have reportedly said Mr Gandhi cannot be allowed as no political activity is allowed on campus.
The University authorities pointed out that after a High Court order in June 2017, the university had adopted a resolution not to allow non-academic activities on campus, including political activity, according to NDTV report.
Professor of law G Vinod Kumar, however supported the Congress leader’s visit and said it is not political but intellectual activity if Rahul Gandhi comes to discuss issues with students.
Congress leaders have interpreted it as the state’s ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi leaning on the university, meaning to keep Rahul away from an institution that is considered Ground Zero for the Telangana movement.
Protests by the activists of the NSUI – the student wing of the Congress — continued protests at the campus on Monday against denial of permission.
16 student activists of NSUI were arrested and sent to judicial remand in Chanchalguda prison for 14 days. They were booked for unlawful assembly, assault, rioting, trespass and preventing public servants from discharging their duties.
Despite student activists claiming that the gathering would not be political in nature, the administration seems unwilling to let the gathering take place.
As the tussle got worse, K Manavatha Roy, a leader of students JAC (Joint Action Committee) and unemployed youth associations, along with three others filed a lunch motion plea in the high court.
Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi is reportedly all set to visit Telangana on May 6 and 7 and the state unit is preparing a grand meeting of almost 5 lakh supporters in Warangal.
Rahul Gandhi will arrive at Shamshabad Airport on May 6 at 4 pm. From there, he will fly to Warangal from Shamshabad by helicopter, according to the schedule.
Apart from meeting students of Osmania University, Gandhi is scheduled to participate in two events organised by the Warangal Raitu Sangharshana Sabha where he will interact with family members of deceased farmers.
