Hyderabad, December 09: A group of students belonging to the Osmania University were allegedly manhandled by the followers of Health Minister Danam Nagender, when the former came to the Minister’s residence at Banjara Hills Road No.12 to submit a representation on statehood for Telangana on Tuesday.
The Banjara Hills police said some 12 students came near the residence and raised slogans in support of Telangana and also against Nagender. Immediately, Nagender’s followers, who were standing near his house in large numbers, allegedly roughed up the students before the security personnel intervened.
Later, four students who were nabbed, were handed over to the Banjara Hills police and cases registered against them. However, the police were tightlipped about the arrest. The agitating students went to Nagender’s house after he reiterated his stand about making Greater Hyderabad a separate Union Territory on Monday, instead of making it an integral part of a separate Telangana.
Reacting to the incident, Nagender told reporters that troublemakers would be taught a lesson. He clarified that he was not averse to Telangana. “But my stand is to make Greater Hyderabad a Union Territory, which is a reflection of people’s wishes, if a decision is taken to bifurcate the State. I will extend respect to anyone who comes to my house and treat him as my guest. But if someone comes to my house declaring that they will attack me, they will be given a fitting reply,” Nagender said.
According to him, Hyderabad was a Union Territory under the Nizam’s rule. Nagender said he would leave the final decision to the Congress high command. When reporters questioned him about the students, Nagender said they had been handed over to police but were not arrested. Government advisor K V P Ramachandra Rao was also present at Nagender’s residence when the latter spoke to the media.
–Agencies