Etala: Release OU Students' Leader

Demanding that the state government immediately and unconditionally release Osmania University Students Joint Action Committee (OUSJAC) President Pidamarthi Ravi, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) Floor leader, Etala Rajender, on Sunday said that the government was trying to put down the separate statehood agitation by force.

Rajender told mediapersons that the state government was scared that the proposed Millennium March will destroy its credibility, and force it to act on the separate statehood demand. The TRS leader said that this was the reason behind the arrest of the OUSJAC leader.

Pidamarthi Ravi was picked up by the task force sleuths, late on Saturday night, as part of the preventative measures being put in place in view of the Millennium March.

It is unclear whether he was taken into custody from the university campus. Some reports suggest that the students' leader was picked up from Bagh Lingampally.

Rajender stated that the government was on tenterhooks, and had directed the police to arrest other prominent OUSJAC leaders.

Meanwhile, Telangana Political Joint Action Committee Convenor Kodandaram also condemned Ravi's arrest, and termed the government's action as 'unfortunate'.

Prof. Kodandaram said that the arrests made 4 days before the march was scheduled, were evidences of the government's apprehension. "This apprehension is making it resort to reprehensive measures," he added.

Courtesy: INN