Right-wing Hindu groups sought an official ban on the ‘Beef Festival’ scheduled to be held on December 10 by Left wing and Dalit organizations of Osmania University, Hyderabad. Hindu Janajagruti Samiti on Friday registered its protest with Hyderabad District Collector and urged collector K Nirmala to intervene and protect the University atmosphere from being polluted by some student groups.
It has become a tradition for assertive Dalit organizations and Left wing student association in Hyderabad to organize Beef Festival as response to the imposition of rightist anti-beef culture. Though the cultural event began in University of Hyderabad, Osmania University has been carrying it forward. This year All India Students Federation (AISF), Progressive Democratic Students Union (PDSU), Students Federation of India (SFI), Bahujan Students Federation (BSF) and some faculty members joined hands to organize the Beef Festival on December 10, normally observed as ‘Human Rights Day’. According to organizers, the December 10 has been chosen to uphold the food rights of the people. The organizers have also invited noted writer and activist Arundhati Roy, Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah, former MP and noted Dalit activist from Tamil Nadu Thol Tirumavalavan to participate in the event.
Criticizing the organizers for attempting to vitiate the academic atmosphere on the campus, the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti demanded action against the student groups responsible for the Beef Festival.
“We condemn the so called Beef Festival. Consuming and serving beef on the campus hurts religious sentiments of Hindu community. This type of festivals go against the established university traditions. Educational institutes are like temples and students should help maintain the sanctity of the place,” said Chandra Moger, Samiti’s coordinator.
The organization alleged that some miscreants and anti-social elements among the University students were willfully organizing this Beef Festival only to foment trouble on the campus. Recalling the 2012 Beef Festival which led to the violence causing injuries to scores of students, the organization urged the collector and University authorities to ban the festival to prevent recurrence of violence on the campus.
