Police step in to stop 'beef', 'pork' fests on Osmania University campus
Some student organisations declared that they would hold a beef festival on Dec 10.
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 on Friday 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 ensure 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.
The unviersity authorities had earlier said that activities such as 'beef festival' and 'gau (cow) puja', which are not related to academics and research, will not be permitted in the campus.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Minorities' Commission for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, 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, Khan said, "Telangana government has to seriously look into this matter and we will also write to government in this regard."
The Commission, following complaints over Singh's speeches, had called for reports from the state government and the police.
The minorities panel serves both the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.