Rahul Gandhi's meeting with Osmania students on campus, Congress to move HC

Talking about the meeting, Congress state affairs in-charge Manikkam Tagore said that there is no clarity on Rahul Gandhi meeting Osmania University students for now. Earlier, Congress leaders met Osmania University Vice-Chancellor who declined to give permission. The party is planning to move High court to request permission to meet students.

Hyderabad: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's scheduled visit to Telangana on May 6 and 7 has been caught in a controversy with the Osmania University administration denying Gandhi's proposed meeting with the students on campus. State Congress leaders have planned to conduct a meeting between Rahul Gandhi and OU students on the following day. But the OU administration has taken a stand not to permit the meeting on the campus.

Talking about the meeting, Congress state affairs in-charge Manikkam Tagore said that there is no clarity on Rahul Gandhi meeting Osmania University students for now. Earlier, Congress leaders met Osmania University Vice-Chancellor who declined to give permission. Now, the party is planning to move High Court to request permission to meet students.

Tagore added that the leaders have discussed chances to conduct a meeting of Rahul Gandhi with the unemployed youth and farmers. The programs should be scheduled under the rules and regulations of the Z+ Category.

The meeting was attended by Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee President Revanth reddy, working president Mahesh Kumar Goud, campaigning committee chairman Madhu Yahki, All India Congress Committee Incharge Secretaries Bosu Raju and Srinivasa Krishnan.

Earlier, OU Vice-Chancellor D Ravinder Yadav did not officially reject the permission, the administration has been maintaining that permitting political events on campus could disturb law and order. The administration fears that there will be clashes between student groups on that day more importantly when the OU NGO body elections are scheduled on the same day, that is May 7. The student groups supporting Congress have sought High Court intervention over the matter.

However, TRSV and ABVP leaders submitted a memorandum to the VC asking him not to allow Rahul Gandhi's visit to OU and said, "it will spoil the academic atmosphere on the campus". TRS party MLA Balka Suman also opposed the meeting and requested OU officials to disallow permission.

However, former Congress MP Hanumantha Rao and some other Congress leaders sought permission for Gandhi's visit on May 7. He stated that OU students had "played a key role in Telangana formation and a number of OU Students sacrificed their lives".

The schedule of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's visit to Telangana on May 6 and 7 has been released. Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) informed that Gandhi will arrive at the Shamshabad airport by a special flight at 4 pm on May 6 and will fly to Warangal in a helicopter.

Meanwhile, the Congress leaders have already set up two stages on the premises of the Rythu Sangharsha Sabha in Warangal. The first platform is for Rahul Gandhi and other leaders while the second stage has been set up for the families of farmers who have committed suicide due to crop loss.

Rahul Gandhi will address the Rythu Sangharsha Sabha meeting on May 6 in Warangal. Gandhi will have breakfast with the main leaders of the party at Hotel Kohinoor on May 7. Gandhi is scheduled to hold a special meeting with around 200 main leaders at Gandhi Bhavan on May 7 and will return to Delhi at 4 pm via Shamshabad airport.