Hyderabad: Telangana govt Monday directed police to withdraw cases against University of Hyderabad students over protests against govt’s move to auction 400 acres in Kancha Gachibowli.
The decision followed a meeting of the three-member ministerial committee comprising deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka, ministers D Sridhar Babu and Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy with UoH Teachers Association (UHTA) and representatives of different public organisations at the secretariat. It was also attended by Natarajan, DG (Intelligence) Shivdhar Reddy and Cyberabad police commissioner Avinash Mohanty. The joint action committee (JAC) of students, however, boycotted the meeting, insisting it would meet the ministers’ panel only after govt considers their demands.
This issue had attracted national attention, with even high court and Supreme Court intervening. Posters were erected in the national capital urging Rahul Gandhi to intervene, following which AICC deputed its Telangana in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan to handle the issue.
Meenakshi came to Hyderabad Saturday and held a meeting with the ministerial committee, followed by the varsity’s NSUI unit. On Sunday, she had met student representatives, civil society organisations and teachers from the university.
During Monday’s meeting, Bhatti assured UHTA and others that the cases against two students — who are in judicial remand — would also be withdrawn and gave instructions to police. However, the ministers’ committee said police presence to protect the 400 acres was essential under the recent SC order. “Govt will write to UoH about its intention to withdraw police from the rest of the campus. After assurance from the administration about the security of the students and property of the campus, police will be withdrawn from the campus, except from the 400 acres,” Bhatti said.
Regarding the demand of the students to allow them to conduct a survey of the damage caused in the contentious 400 acres, the ministers made it clear it would not be possible in view of the Supreme Court order to maintain status quo. The committee said it was ready to visit the campus as requested by the students, but given the ongoing SC case, it cannot be planned immediately. However, the committee invited the students for a meeting to hear their concerns and suggestions.
Earlier, representatives of UHTA and civil society groups had demanded immediate police withdrawal from the campus, revocation of prohibitory orders, withdrawal of all cases filed against students involved in the agitation, and the immediate release of two students still under police custody. They had sought permission to conduct a damage assessment. The participants also conveyed that the students’ JAC did not participate because the above immediate demands were not met by govt before the meeting.