OU students spar with BJP MLA Raja Singh over beef fest, file police complaint

A group of students from Osmania University lodged a complaint against Goshamahal BJP MLA Raja Singh alleging that he was trying to disrupt public peace by making provocative comments against the proposed beef fest to be held on December 10.

According to a report in the Times of India, the student representatives lodged a complaint against the MLA after learning that the legislator gave a memorandum to the in-charge vice-chancellor of the university demanding cancellation of the beef festival.

"We have received a joint complaint from the representatives of SFI, AISF and PDSU against MLA Raja Singh alleging that he was trying to disrupt peace on the campus by provoking people from various communities by commenting and putting up photos, holding talwars on Facebook and Twitter, against the beef festival to be organized on the campus. We are verifying the complaint and no case has been filed yet," OU inspector V Ashok Reddy told the newspaper.

The students had earlier made it clear that only buffalo and bullock meat would be served at the beef festival, but claimed that the BJP legislator was still trying to instigate students via social media.

Addressing the media in Hyderabad, BJP president Kishan Reddy had also said "You can eat whatever you want. The BJP or the Modi government will not interfere with it. Don’t take the opposition of a few people in this matter seriously."

Raja Singh posted the video of the speech by the BJP state president on Facebook and wrote "Very Sad to hear that Telangana State BJP President Kishan Reddy supporting Beef Eating and says he has no objection about eating beef."

The Goshamahal MLA also put a photo on his twitter handle of him holding a sword and captioned 'Chalo Osmania University' and 'Gaumata Bachao Andolan'.

“Being an MLA, Raja Singh should not use provocative language and intimidate students. We are not doing anything illegal. We are aware that cow slaughter is prohibited in Telangana. But the meat of buffaloes and  bullocks or any other beast of burden is not prohibited. We will be buying beef legally and serving it in the campus. When Kishan Reddy said he did not have any objection, why is Raja Singh objecting?” E Arunank, the TS general secretary, of Democratic Students Union told Deccan Chronicle.

Chalo Osmania University in Protest against Beef Festival being organized in Osmania University on 10th December pic.twitter.com/2L2ubL5gC1

— Raja Singh BJP MLA (@RajaSinghBJP) November 29, 2015

Submitted Letter to Osmania University VC Smt. Acharya raising my objection for allowing BEEF FESTIVAL pic.twitter.com/LXYMcgCrlp

— Raja Singh BJP MLA (@RajaSinghBJP) November 30, 2015