Two days prior to the proposed beef festival, student organisers held a preview of what’s in store as they spread out beef delicacies including biryani, tala-hua-gosht and kebab for a select audience including students, reporters and university authorities here on Tuesday.
The preview was attended by leaders of 25 OU student outfits apart from some research scholars of varsities including English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU) and University of Hyderabad (UoH). Setting the mood for this controversial festival which is hanging by the noose following a status quo order issued by the city civil court, students said they believe in their constitutional rights to live and express.
Court order
Amidst slogans supporting food rights, student leaders said they will conduct the festival despite hurdles. Students said they are yet to receive a copy of the court order and will address the issue after they receive the same. “We have approached the civil court to file a counter. We will also approach the High Court on Wednesday morning,” said David, a student leader, adding the organisers are hopeful that the courts too would uphold their constitutional rights.
The students lashed out against Osmania University Teachers Association (OUTA) which had earlier held a call to protect “sanctity and purity of academic atmosphere”. They said that OUTA had never been part of safeguarding academics in the past. “When some right wing students had poured hot sambar on a faculty member to spite him, or when two other faculty members resigned due to harassment from student groups, OUTA had not intervened to save the academic atmosphere on campus,” Mr. David said.
“Ninety percent of students on OU campus are Dalit-Bahujan, most whom are beef eaters. Section 29 (A) of the constitution ensures that ‘any section of the citizens residing in the territory of India having a distinct language, script or culture of its own shall have the right to conserve the same,” said B. Sudarshan of Osmania University.
However, OU witnessed police presence on campus even as organisers of pork festival too held a media conference announcing their decision to conduct ‘Pandikoora panduga’.
