Telangana: Revanth sanctions Rs1000 cr for Osmania Univ

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy Wednesday, allocated Rs 1,000 crore to the state’s oldest higher education institution, the Osmania University, while taking a dig at the previous BRS regime under K Chandrasekhar Rao for running it aground with deliberate neglect.

Apart from the government order sanctioning the amount, he also unveiled a special QR code inviting students to share their suggestions on the proposed master plan for the university’s upgrade into a premier institution. While there was a massive protest during his visit, the Chief Minister appealed to the students not to fall into the traps of political parties and instead focus on their studies to ensure a good future.

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Reddy, during an earlier visit this year, had promised to sanction Rs 1000 crore for the university, considered to be the key centre of the statehood movement, both in the 60s and just before the formation of the new state. Today, in his second visit after assuming office, he handed over the government order sanctioning the amount. The government also released a video clip of the master plan prepared by the education department.

Recollecting the rich history of the Osmania University, set up in pre-independence India by the Nizam, the Chief Minister said its alumni include former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao, politicians and revolutionaries like S Jaipal Reddy, George Reddy and Gaddar (Gummadi Vittal Rao). He said during the Telangana statehood movement, the student had freedom, social justice and equal opportunities.

Attacking the BRS, the Chief Minister said the university was deliberately neglected for 10 years. He alleged that the BRS leaders had built farmhouses on hundreds of acres of land, but not a single Dalit family received the three acres promised by the previous regime. “I am standing before you as a chief minister with the blessings of the weaker sections. I aspire to deliver good governance which will be remembered forever in history,” said the Chief Minister. He instructed the university authorities to ensure appointments were done in a transparent manner without giving in to any kind of political obligations.

Meanwhile, a section of the university students protested against the Chief Minister, alleging that he failed to fulfil the promise of releasing the job calendar. They raised slogans of “CM Down Down” even as the police tried to bring the situation under control.