The Osmania University campus has turned in to a sea of humanity as thousands of students have poured in from all parts of Telangana region to attend "Vidhyarthy Garjana" meeting.
Even as the police have stopped the vehicles carrying participants at different places including Nalgonda, Medak and Mehbubnagar, campus was brimming with the crowds as folk singers and cultural troupes performed highlighting the sufferings and the history of Telagnana struggle through their songs.
Agitated students sat on dharna stopping traffic on National Highway 9 when they were stopped by the police at Chityal in Nalgonda district. Vehicles were stopped at different places by the police on various grounds including absence of permissions and students not carrying identity cards. Those vehicles which were able to reach Hyderabad were stopped several km away from the venue and the students had to walk to reach the campus.
Several youth and students were also sent back from the main entrance saying they did not have the identity cards. It led to arguments between the police officials and the organizers. In accordance with the orders of the high court the political leaders of all the parties stayed away from the venue of the meeting. But the police restrictions evoked angry reaction from the leaders of various parties including ruling Congress and the Telangana Rashtra Samiti.
"All these restrictions by the police are unlawful and unconstitutional and their only aim was to foil the meeting. But they will not succeed", said T Harish Rao, TRS legislator. Former minister and Congress MLA Damodar Reddy warned that if the students get provoked by police actions, the government will be responsible.
In a speech made, student leader Uttam called on the parties to break their silence on the Telangana issue. The Students Joint Action committee has called for a bandh on 5 January, to pressurise the central government over Telangana. The JAC plans to stop all trains and transport on Tuesday if their demands are not met. The JAC has also called upon the Telugu Desam Party and the Majlis -e-ittehadul- Musalameen to clarify their stand on the Telangana issue.
