TSPSC paper leak: Osmania students launch 2-day protest, seek CBI probe

Hyderabad: Students of Osmania University launched a two-day protest in response to the Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) paper leakage scandal. The protest demonstration called ‘Vidyarthi Nirudyoga Maha Nirasana Deeksha’ started on Friday by a joint action committee (JAC) of students and unemployed youths at the university’s Arts College.

The students demand a judicial probe or investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the question paper leak scam, the dismissal of the incumbent TSPSC and its chairman B. Janardhan Reddy, and compensation of Rs. 1 lakh for candidates who have to prepare again due to the cancellation of exams.

The university security authority has closed all the gates of the campus and a high alert has been issued for Friday and Saturday. The OU police reportedly arrested several students ahead of the protest, causing upset among the student body.

Students are demanding action against TSPSC chairman Reddy, and there are allegations that no action has been taken against him due to his position.

Srihari, an ABVP Central Working Committee member, said the students alleged that the cops are arresting whoever they see on the campus and that they even arrested hostelers who generally live there. “The students of Osmania University have protested for the state of Telangana, and now they have been locked from both the sides when they ask for justice. The government has only arrested 7-8 people of TSPSC and has taken no action against any officers who were part of it,” he said.

He further questioned, “What will happen to the students who have passed the exam? The stress they go through while studying, and what about people who have passed the age?”

Allegations of political involvement

Prathap Reddy, state president of EBC Organisation, said, “KTR’s PA Tirupati is involved in the ongoing issue. We think that without political involvement, no one can come forward to help. Therefore, we demand a CBI inquiry or a sitting judge to ensure justice since the SIT is a part of the government. We have seen in the past that SIT has not responded appropriately to cases such as Nayeem and drug cases. We do not think that the SIT is corrupt, but they might have political pressure. Renuka, the accused in TSPSC paper leak, accepted that she got the job in Gurukulam by unfair means. It is an example of how a genuine candidate lost the opportunity. We suspect that there might be many such cases.”

He added, “Even with group exams, we thought it was only one person, but now many have been arrested. We demand an inquiry from 2014, when the state was formed, and seek justice. Revanth Reddy will join our protest, and even if they don’t allow him, we will still protest and not care if the police arrest us.”

JAC activists said such anti-democratic actions from the state would not deter them from raising their demands and that they plan to hold protests across state universities and district headquarters from Saturday. They were planning to take out a rally from the OU Arts college to the Telangana Martyrs’ Memorial at Gun Park when they were detained by the police.

Congress at the protest

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president A. Revanth Reddy and other party leaders were prevented from attending a scheduled protest at Osmania University in Hyderabad on Friday. The protest was in connection with the Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) paper leak case. Revanth Reddy and other leaders were confined to their homes while activists were picked up by the police to thwart the protest.

Revanth challenged Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao on Twitter to discuss the TSPSC question paper scam in the presence of Osmania University students. He also appeared before the special investigation team (SIT) on Thursday to present evidence he had gathered against the ruling party. The SIT has also summoned BJP state president Bandi Sanjay.

After appearing before the SIT, Revanth accused IT minister KTR of protecting culprits involved in the TSPSC paper leak scam. He demanded the dismissal of KTR from the Cabinet and requested the SIT to question the minister. KTR responded by saying that legal notices were being sent to Revanth and BJP state president Bandi Sanjay for conspiring to discredit the government with political malice. He also accused both parties of attempting to stall the recruitment process.