Tension grips Osmania University as police foil ABVP protest against ban order
Hyderabad: Tension gripped Osmania University on Monday morning as the police tried to scuttle the protest organised by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) against OU’s circular banning protests on the campus.
The ABVP activists had called for an OU bandh on Monday while threatening the administration to intensify the protest by organising a ‘Chalo Assembly’ programme if the university did not revoke the circular in the next 24 hours.
In view of the bandh call given by the students as a protest against the varsity administration circular, security has been beefed up on campus.
Videos of tense moments near the Arts College show that the local police entered the historic building and dragged several student activists out and detained them. Subsequently, they were shifted to the nearby OU police station. The arrested students were taking out a rally from the Arts College to register their protest against the ban order.
ABVP national executive member and Telangana Universities Coordinator Jeevan accused the Vice Chancellor of suppressing students’ democratic rights. He said the fight for the students’ rights on the campus would continue.
On Sunday, the Osmania University administration issued a statement clarifying its decision on imposing a ban on student protests and agitations in the university campus. The university had issued a circular on March 13, stating that the staging of dharnas, protests and raising slogans inside campus is banned.
Following a huge uproar from the student community and political parties, University Registrar Prof G Naresh Reddy issued an official statement on Sunday. He said the content of the circular was misinterpreted and misunderstood by the various stakeholders. He also clarified that the university has not imposed a blanket ban on student protests or agitations in open spaces within the campus.
“It is important to clarify that the circular does not impose a blanket ban on student protests or agitations in open spaces within the university. The restrictions apply exclusively to the academic and administrative spaces within college departments and administrative premises. The aim of the circular is to prevent disruptions that interfere with the smooth functioning of the university’s academic and administrative processes. Unfortunately, recent incidents, such as unauthorized occupation of the Principal’s room at Nizam College, disruptive activities at the University College of Arts & Social Sciences, and the forcible occupation of the Registrar’s Office for over four hours, have significantly hindered essential academic and administrative work,” a statement from the university administration stated.
Mild tension at Osmania University as police thwart ABVP protest
Hyderabad: Tension prevailed at Osmania University on Monday as police intervened to stop a protest led by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) against the university’s ban on campus demonstrations.
ABVP… pic.twitter.com/Zn4xTjmbL3
— Hyderabad Mail (@Hyderabad_Mail) March 17, 2025
