Uttam vents ire against cops

Hyderabad: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president N Uttam Kumar Reddy has accused the TRS government of labelling dalits, ST, BC and minority students as criminals.

Speaking to the media after visiting the Cherlapally Central Jail along with chief spokesperson D Sravan and NSUI state president Venkat, to meet students of University of Hyderabad who were lodged there, the PCC chief criticised the TRS government for mistreating students and faculty members when they protested against the return of Appa Rao as UoH Vice-Chancellor.

"Instead of sending Appa Rao, an accused in the SC/ST Atrocities case to jail, the TRS government has targeted innocent students who were protesting peacefully. They were lathicharged and brutally beaten up even in police vans. This is highly intolerable," he said.

Reddy blamed the BJP government at the Centre and TRS government of Telangana for the present unrest in University of Hyderabad. "Is it a crime to protest against the suicide by a research scholar Rohith Vemula? Is it wrong to demand Rohith Act to prevent caste discrimination in educational institutions? It is wrong to demand the arrest of Appa Rao who has been booked under a non-bailable offence?" he asked.

Reddy also criticised the TRS government for opposing the bail plea of UoH students and faculty who were arrested since March 21. “By opposing the bail petition, TRS government has clearly exposed its stand wherein it is treating dalits students like criminals,” he said.

The TPCC president said false cases can not deter students from democratic struggles. He also said that while law would take its own course, the TRS government should stop implicating innocent students in false cases and immediately arrest Appa Rao. Similarly, the BJP government should stop its interference in premier educational institutions. He demanded the Centre that Appa Rao be immediately dismissed.