This is an archive article published on May 1, 2022
Osmania University ‘refuses to permit’ Rahul Gandhi visit, campus simmers
Administration official says non-academic activities on university premises barred following a 2016 High Court judgment
Written by Sreenivas Janyala
Hyderabad | Updated: May 2, 2022 07:44 AM IST
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Congress leader Rahul Gandhi (file photo)
It is one of India’s oldest universities and has a rich history of student politics going back decades. But Osmania University (OU) has reportedly refused to approve former Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the campus on May 7 for a “non-political” event.
Though the university has not intimated its decision to the organisers in writing, the OU Executive Council’s reported refusal on Saturday has triggered a political maelstrom, with the Congress accusing the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS)-led state government of leaning on the institution to stop Gandhi’s visit. Some students moved the Telangana High Court the same day, urging it to direct the university to allow Gandhi’s visit.
Congress leaders on Sunday said they applied for permission for the event on April 23, stating that the visit would be “non-political” in nature. An administration official pointed out that since 2017 the Executive Council had adopted a resolution almost every year barring non-academic activities, including political meetings, on campus.
The official said the first such resolution was adopted in June 2017, a year after the High Court directed the state government to not allow political and public meetings on the university’s premises. The court’s ruling was based on a petition by some students complaining of constant disturbance because of political activities.
“A circular (in 2017) stated OU was established for the purpose of imparting higher education and informed the teachers and students that non-academic activities such as political meetings will not be permitted on the campus. A resolution to this effect was also passed by the OU Executive Council,” the university official said but refused to confirm if permission had been declined for the event Gandhi was scheduled to attend. Other university officials said a political leader’s visit to the campus cannot be a non-political programme.
The university’s reported decision has led to protests on campus. While several Youth Congress leaders and supporters staged a demonstration at the OU Arts College on Saturday, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and students’ associations affiliated with the TRS organised counter protests. Manavta Roy of the Telangana Nirudyog Vidyarthi Joint Action Committee (JAC) said the administration had not yet informed students of its decision in writing. “We are expecting the administration to say something on Monday,” he added.
The Congress MLA from Sangareddy constituency in Medak district, Jagga Reddy, accused the state government of pressuring OU to stop Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Osmania. “OU has always been known for student movements, including the Telangana agitation. We clarified that our leader’s visit is non-political but they made up their mind about not allowing it,’’ he told The Indian Express.
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Former Rajya Sabha MP V Hanumantha Rao also criticised the university and the state government. Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to address a public meeting in Hanamkonda near Warangal on May 6 and visit Karimnagar.
Sreenivas Janyala is a Deputy Associate Editor at The Indian Express, where he serves as one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political and economic landscape of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. With a career spanning over two decades in mainstream journalism, he provides deep-dive analysis and frontline reporting on the intricate dynamics of South Indian governance.
Expertise and Experience
Regional Specialization: Based in Hyderabad, Sreenivas has spent more than 20 years documenting the evolution of the Telugu-speaking states. His reporting was foundational during the historic Telangana statehood movement and continues to track the post-bifurcation development of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Key Coverage Beats: His extensive portfolio covers a vast spectrum of critical issues:
High-Stakes Politics: Comprehensive tracking of regional powerhouses (BRS, TDP, YSRCP, and Congress), electoral shifts, and the political careers of figures like K. Chandrashekar Rao, Chandrababu Naidu, and Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Internal Security & Conflict: Authoritative reporting on Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), the decline of the Maoist movement in former hotbeds, and intelligence-led investigations into regional security modules.
Governance & Infrastructure: Detailed analysis of massive irrigation projects (like Kaleshwaram and Polavaram), capital city developments (Amaravati), and the implementation of state welfare schemes.
Crisis & Health Reporting: Led the publication's ground-level coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic in South India and major industrial incidents, such as the Vizag gas leak.
Analytical Depth: Beyond daily news, Sreenivas is known for his "Explained" pieces that demystify complex regional disputes, such as river water sharing and judicial allocations between the sister states. ... Read More
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