The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : OU students stage protest

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Wednesday, Jul 08, 2009
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

OU students stage protest

Political parties give a regional colour to agitation over closure of mess facility for research scholars

HYDERABAD: Closure of mess facility for research scholars at Osmania University took regional colour with leaders of various political parties and organisations supporting the students who staged a dharna at the Vice-Chancellor’s office on Tuesday.

Activists of ABVP gheroaed the Registrar demanding that the University do away with the new guidelines for research scholars to avail mess facility. The agitating students were joined by TRS MLA, T. Harish Rao, balladeer Gadar; and former MLA Nomula Narsimaiah.

Mr. Harish Rao alleged that the Vice-Chancellor and the Registrar were being guided by the Chief Minister in creating hurdles for Telangana students and asked them to function keeping students’ interests in view. Gadar, who made similar demands, also spoke to Higher Education Minister D. Sridhar Babu from the spot and asked him to intervene.

However, the Minister said he was in Basara and asked the students to meet him at his office on Wednesday to sort out the problem.

Mr. Gadar then offered lime juice to students on hunger strike marking the end of four-day strike.

Meanwhile, the University has agreed to the other demands of the students like invoking the 10-day mess bill system, display of mess bill within 5 to 10 days and displaying the list of provisions, price list and attendance of scholars availing the mess facility on a daily basis. However, it refused to accept the demand on using the facility without clearing the dues. It said dues have accumulated to Rs. 70 lakh over last five years.

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