OU on the boil again

Hyderabad: The Osmania University which had witnessed many agitations during the struggle for separate statehood was once again on the boil on Wednesday.Following a call given by the Telangana Students Unemployed Joint Action Committee, students took out a procession from the OU Arts College raising slogans against the Telangana government demanding immediate filling of all vacancies.

The protestors alleged that Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao has gone back on his word to fill the vacancies after the formation of Telangana. Claiming that students played a key role in the formation of the separate state, they demanded justice to the unemployed youth. The students pelted stones and clashed with the police while removing barricades and barbed wires near the OU NCC gate and towards Tarnaka side. They said they wanted to take out a march to the TS Assembly to draw the attention of the government.

This led to tension at the Osmania University. The police responded with mild use of force. A few protestors were also arrested. The JAC alleged that its leaders including president K Manavata Roy were arrested by the police early on Wednesday. It may be mentioned here that the Chief Minister had stated in the Assembly on Saturday that vacancies would be filled in two years and that notifications for the same would be issued at regular intervals.

He also stated that the exact number of vacancies would be known after the K C Kamalnathan Committee submitted its report. The committee is looking into distribution of the existing state cadre employees between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The JAC, which comprises various student groups, has alleged that the government is adopting delaying tactics.