HYDERABAD: Tension is building up over the proposed ‘Beef festival’ to be held on the Osmania University campus on Sunday what with pamphlets being distributed by some persons to hosteliers asking them to stay away from the festival as it was against the Indian culture.Anticipating trouble, the police has decided to provide tight security at the venue on Sunday.Speaking to Express, East Zone DCP Y Gangdhar said that they spoke to all the student organisations including those who are organising the festival for smooth and peaceful conduct of the programme.One of the organising member of the festival B Sudarshan said they are expecting about 1,000 students from various universities including EFLU and UoH to take part in the beef festival.Sudarshan said they will not create any inconvenience as they are organising it on the hostel premises and not in the hostel or mess.During the ‘festival’, billed as a protest against upper-caste students’ contempt of their traditions, Dalit students plan to cook beef in the open and serve it as an expression of their cultural identity and constitutional rightsMeanwhile, anonymous people have distributed pamphlets in the hostel rooms asking them to oppose the beef festival stating that is against Indian culture.ABVP campus in-charge B Ramakrishna said that they will not disturb the festival.Last year, too, the Dalit students had planned a beef festival on the campus but were dissuaded.With BJP student wing ABVP opposing the demand, university authorities have denied permission for the event on the ground that it may spark violence. The Dalit students have accused the authorities of “food fascism” and cultural imposition and said their plan stands.
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