Osmania University criticized for not 'permitting' Rahul Gandhi to campus
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Hyderabad: Osmania University (OU) is in the eye of a storm after it reportedly refused permission to Rahul Gandhi to visit the campus.
The former Congress president is scheduled to visit the campus on May 7 for a "Non-political" event, according to Indian Express
The University, however, has not yet said no to the organisers but OU Executive Council reportedly refused permission.
The Congress accused the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS)-led state government of leaning on the institution to stop Gandhi's visit, according to the Indian Express.
Following reports, some students approached Telangana High Court to urge University to make the Rahul's visit happen.
Congress leaders sought permission for the "non-political" event on April 23.
According to an administration official since the adoption of a resolution by the Executive Council in 2017, political meetings have not been allowed on the campus.
The resolution was adopted, according to the official, after the High Court's direction not to allow political and public meetings on the university's premises.
The court ruled so after some students approached the court complaining disturbances from political activities.
The official said a circular in 2017 would not permit all non-academic activities on the campus.
Meanwhile, some university officials maintained that a political leader's visit could not be a non-political programme.
Youth Congress activists protested at the OU Arts College on Saturday. There were counter protests by students belonging to the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and TRS.
Former Rajya Sabha MP V Hanumantha Rao also criticised the university and the state government, The Indian Express said.
One of India's oldest higher education centres, Osmania University's history of student politics goes back to decades.
