Leaders and party workers from CPI (M), CPI, YSRC, Lok Satta and students from various colleges and members of SFI and DYFI took out a rally on Friday condemning the police action against the agitating students and SFI and DYFI members, near the District Collector’s office on September 15.
Speaking at the Gandhi statue near GVMC, CPI (M) State secretariat member Ch. Narasinga Rao demanded that the authorities concerned immediately suspend the SHO of Three Town and Two Town Police stations for their highhandedness.
The students from 19 SC/ST and BC hostels were protesting against the bad quality of food being served and lack of basic amenities in the hostel and wanted to give a representation to the District Collector on September 15, when they were lathi-charged and taken into custody by the police present there. About 20 students, including girls, suffered injuries in the incident.
Mr. Narasinga Rao also pointed out that two SFI leaders -- Jagan and Kumar -- were beaten up by the police at Three Town police station which is against the law. “When we tried to bring the incident to the notice of the higher-ups in the Police Department they showed no remorse,” he lamented.
Former YSRC MLA Babu Rao said that the TDP government was patronising corporate colleges, while neglecting the government-run colleges and hostels.
YSRC party’s district and city president G. Amarnath said that the TDP was trying to stifle the voice of the opposition.
Quoting the recent incident at Koyyuru, when the police cut the public address system during a public meeting wherein the bauxite mining issue was being highlighted, he said: “They also do not want the students to protest in a democratic fashion.”
Stir to be intensified
Mr. Narasinga Rao threatened that the agitation would be intensified if the authorities concerned did not take action against the police officers and bring in a positive change at the hostels at the earliest.
Over 500 members from different parties and students from various colleges and hostels participated in the rally which was taken out from Saraswati Park to GVMC Gandhi Statue.
