Tension At OU As Police, Students Clash

Tension prevailed in Osmania University on Thursday as the police closed the gates of OU to prevent the students of OU from rallying towards Hussain Sagar Lake. Students say this rally is a tribute to Konda Laxman (Bapuji), a freedom fighter who passed away this month, on his birth anniversary today (27 September).

Konda Laxman Bapuji died on 21st September 2012. Bapuji, who was 97, was a freedom fighter who devoted 60 years as a Telangana activist.

Students of OU are keen to rally till the Jaladrusyam, where the cremation of Bapuji took place. Police, however, say that the students are allowed to hold the rally only within their campus, and that they have no permission to step outside the campus due to various reasons such as the ongoing Ganesh immersion processions on the Tank Bund and the CoP-11.

Police say that this rally would disturb the Ganesh immersion and the biodiversity meet in the city.

They add that the students must understand the fact that media from all around the world are present in Hyderabad for the CoP-11, and that they would jeopardize the city's reputation if the rally catches media attention.

On the other hand, the students attempted to jump out of the gates, and pelted stones at the police. They also pleaded with the police with "namasthes", saying that the rally would be peaceful.

The students complained that for the past one week they had met Home Minister Sabitha Indra Reddy around 4 times to seek permission for the rally, and that they were turned down every time.

They also shouted slogans, and pledged to fight "until 4.5 crore citizens get justice with the formation of a seperate state", and that "the suicides of various students have to be justified".

The rally also saw students observe 2 minutes of silence for Bapuji at OU. Heavy security was provided outside the OU gates, and the roads heading to OU from "6 number" and Vidyanagar were closed.

There were several talks between the students and the police but the police stuck to their decision.

Meanwhile, the decision on whether a rally should be held on September 30 will be decided in a meeting between CM Kiran Kumar Reddy and Telangana ministers today evening.