■  CM Revanth Reddy to return to Osmania University in December for a public meeting at the Arts College, ensuring open interaction.

■  Revanth’s pledge to allocate upto Rs 1000 crore if reqd  drew a standing ovation from professors, students, and officials.

■  His visit marked the first CM-student interaction at OU in over 20 years, contrasting with KCR’s cautious 2017 appearance amid security and student unrest.

■  CM's outreach aims to rebuild trust with the student community, addressing past neglect and promising priority development for the varsity

metro india news  I hyderabad

The Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has declared his intention to revisit Osmania University in December for a public meeting at the Arts College, reiterating his commitment to student engagement and democratic dialogue.

CM Revanth instructed police authorities to refrain from deploying barricades or security forces during his next visit, assuring students of their right to protest and promising to respond to their concerns directly and transparently. He also criticized previous administrations for neglecting the university and pledged substantial funding even Rs 1000 crore if required to restore its former glory.

CM's statements to allocate funds big time to transform OU on par with international varsities like Stanford and his announcement of next meeting at Arts College drew loud cheers and appreciation with audience comprising professors, faculty, students, elected representatives and senior bureaucrats giving a standing ovation in response.

Revanth in a way gave a befitting response to his detractors and political rivals, who had criticized police barricades and tight security arrangements inside the campus on the eve of CM's visit. It may be recalled that this is the first time in more than 20 years that Chief Minister of the state (in 10 years of separate Telangana and 10 years in the undivided state) addressed the students in a meeting inside the OU campus.

During the launch of the centenary celebrations of the varsity in April 2017 that was attended by the then President Pranab Mukherjee, the then Telangana CM K Chandrashekar Rao accompanied Pranab Mukherjee for the programme inside the campus, but he did not give his speech reportedly heeding to intelligence advice. Police officials suspected that students inside the meeting area might rise and raise protests against KCR not allow him to speak thus creating an embarrassing situation for the Telangana CM during the programme. 

The police barricades and restrictions on free movement inside the campus that were a common during the second phase of the Telangana agitation from 2009 to 2014, strangely came back during KCR's visit in 2017, as the student community were unhappy with the TRS government for not going for government job recruitments in a big way as promised to students, who played a key role in the statehood movement. Post that centenary visit, KCR did not go to OU for six years afterwards when he continued as the CM of the state till 2023. Revanth, by undertaking visit to OU and his promise to accord top priority for varsity's further development has tried to break the ice between OU students fraternity and the government. 

During his recent to the university, the Chief Minister inaugurated several development projects and addressed the historical significance of Osmania University in Telangana’s socio-political evolution. He emphasized that the university has been a cradle of movements, producing leaders like PV Narasimha Rao, Jaipal Reddy, George Reddy, and Gaddar, who played pivotal roles in shaping the state and the nation.

Highlighting the Congress government's commitment to social justice, he noted the appointment of a Dalit scholar, Kumar, as Vice-Chancellor of Osmania University. The CM stressed that Osmania University is synonymous with Telangana since the varsity and Telangana are considered as conjoined twins. 

The Chief Minister took a swipe reportedly at BRS. Some political leaders are in despair after losing power. The BRS top leadership worried about the political future of their sons. Appealing to the students not to fall in the opposition trap, the CM said that his cabinet colleagues and himself are available to students all the time  and ready to address their grievances. CM said that some beasts in human form are creating hurdles for everything that government does and not even appreciating good things done for the public. They are the "termites " in the Telangana society, who do not want Telangana development. The Chief Minister warned that the university will lose its existence if they come to power again. 

During the 10 year BRS rule, the leaders hatched a conspiracy to weaken the University.  Soon after coming to power , the People's Government envisaged plans to revive the glory of  Osmania University. We have appointed Vice Chancellors who are highly intellectuals and knowledgeable of the society. Since the country needs young leadership, the chief minister said that the government is expecting the university will produce intellectual wealth and create awareness in the Telangana society.

The CM pointed out that the IAS officers are joining services at 21 years of age and why should not the same age limit be applicable for youth to contest elections and enter the Legislative Assembly?