Osmania VC raises 'Jai Telangana' slogans

Osmania University vice-chancellor Prof Tirupati Rao surprised many byraising 'Jai Telangana' slogans with the students on the campus. Prof Rao who has been maintaining restraint over the Telangana agitation on the university campus since the past one month, visited the agitation site at OU on Saturday and pledged his support to the students. In his speech addressing the students which had a 'political' tone, VC said that the government should take favourable decision on the formation of separate Telangana as itis the will of the people in this region.

While asking the students to carry on the Telangana agitation in a peaceful manner and not to risk their career, VC raised quite a few eyebrows when he found fault with the centre's U-turn on Telangana formation."More than 600 students lost their lives in the 1969 Telangana agitation. The Telangana Praja Samithi party which went to the people with Telangana as their agenda swept the elections that time. That showed the will of the people from this region for the formation of a separate state. Everyone here knows Telangana state didn't come into existence then. Since the past 10 years, TRS Chief KCR brought national focus on Telangana. Telangana people should be given a state and I am confident it will come to existence soon. Hundreds of students died in the 1969 movement. You should remember that sacrifice has a limit and take limited individual risk. Our students should stand as role models in peaceful agitation. Looking at you and the movement, I feel Telangana state has already come into existence" he said addressing the students infront of OU Arts College.

The VC added that though he would have sent the police out of the university campus certain decisions are beyond his control and jurisdiction which iswhy he is 'helpless'. The Vice-chancellor's 'political speech' to the students supporting their cause has even surprised many cops on the duty on campus.

However, students were happy with the VC's stand and reminded that the VC of Kakatiya University threatened to quit his post if Police entered his University campus. University sources said that the VC was forced to come and express support to the students as most of them felt that Prof Rao was against T-agitation andwas supporting the government.

VC was forced to give 'Jai Telangana' slogans a few days ago when the students met him in his office demanding the postponement of the exams."Many students think VC is supporting the government and the police action here. He was maintaining restraint but he was misunderstood by the students. So he had to come out and pledge the support for this legitimate demand" said Prof Sudarshan Rao, Principal, OU Arts College.