Hyderabad : Seeking to avoid a showdown between rival camps of students at Osmania University by holding “beef” and “pork” festivals on the same day, police stepped in saying they would not permit any event that would mar peace in the campus. “In order to maintain peace and tranquillity on the campus, with regard to proposed festivities in the Osmania University campus in next 8 days, it is decided not to permit celebration of any festivities on the campus by any students/ organisations/groups,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (East Zone) A Ravinder said.
The DCP also sought the co-operation of students to enusre peace, adding all possible steps would be taken to maintain tranquillity in the campus. While Leftist student organisations have declared that they would hold a ‘beef festival’ on December 10 in the campus, coinciding with the World Human Rights Day, another group of students announced plans to organise a ‘pork festival’ in parallel on the same day, setting the stage for a confrontation.
Escalating the row, BJP MLA Raja Singh had said that he would stop the proposed ‘beef festival’ and called for a ‘Chalo University’ march on that day.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Minorities’ Commission Abid Rasool Khan, said he will write to Telangana government seeking action against Raja Singh for his alleged “provocative statements” on the issue. Asked about the MLA’s reported statement that he would “kill or be killed to protect cows” to oppose the beef festival, PTI