Indian university tells students to take their beef elsewhere

Hyderabad: Amid growing tension between rival groups of students, authorities of Osmania University in India have refused to grant permission for a planned Beef Festival on December 10 and a rival programme of Gau Pooja or cow worship.

An official press release issued by the university said that no such programme would be permitted on the campus as it was likely to lead to a breach of peace.

“The primary objective of the university is purely academic- and research-oriented. It is therefore informed to all the concerned including the teachers, students and staff of the university that activities such as beef festival and Gau Pooja, which are unrelated to academics and research, will not be permitted on the campus. Cooperation is solicited in maintaining the academic environment and peace in the larger interest of the student community”.

The university officials took the decision after seeking legal opinion in view of the raging controversy over the decision by Leftist and Dalit students organisations to hold a beef-eating festival, and a counter threat by the Hindu organisation and a BJP MLA T Raja Singh to react violently and also organise a Gau Pooja programme.

In the first reaction from the government, deputy Chief Minister Mahmoud Ali advised the students to organise their respective programmes in a house or a place dedicated for functions.

“The students should understand that there is no place for politics on the campus. This is only for academic activities”, he added.

Deputy commissioner of police Limba Reddy said the role of the police in this issue would be to maintain peace and order in the campus.

“As far as organising the food festivals is concerned it was for the university to take a decision. Police have no power to stop it,” he said.

Meanwhile a group of students belonging to tribal Banjara Committee decided to organise the festival of eating pork and other traditional foods.

J. Kalyan, chairman the Banjara Students Joint Action Committee and a leader of youth wing of the BJP, said their festival was aimed at showcasing the traditional foods of the Banjara community. But with the OU authorities refusing permission it remains to be seen what action the rival student groups will take.