Hindu groups seek ban on beef festival in Osmania University

Right-wing Hindu groups on Friday urged the authorities not to allow beef festival proposed to be organised by some students' organisations in Osmania University on December 10.

Leaders of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti and other organisations met Hyderabad District Collector K. Nirmala and urged her to ensure that the beef festival is not held.

Condemning the move by some student groups, they also demanded action against the organisers for what they call vitiating the peaceful atmosphere on the campus.

They conveyed that consuming, serving beef on the campus hurts religious feelings of Hindu community and this is against the university tradition. They said education institutes are like temples and students should maintain the sanctity of place.

Samiti's state co-ordinator Chandra Moger and other leaders alleged some miscreants have joined with anti-social elements and they are intentionally conducting the beef festival to hurt religious feelings of Hindus.

They recalled that in 2012 the beef festival had led to violence on the campus and many students were injured in the clashes.

The All India Students Federation (AISF), Progressive Democrative Students Union (PDSU), Students Federation of India (SFI), Bahujan Students Federation (BSF) and other groups of students and some faculty members have announced that the beef festival will be held on Human Rights Day (December 10) to uphold food right as one among the human rights.

They have invited novelist Arundhati Roy, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Thol Tirumavalavan of Tamil Nadu's VCK party, and other political leaders, writers and ideologues from different parts of the country for the event.