OU students target bio-diversity conference

The tight security arrangements for the upcoming bio-diversity conference notwithstanding, members of the Osmania University Students’ Joint Action Committee and the TSJAC are gearing up to target the convention to highlight the Telangana issue.

“We will definitely continue the protests after September and will take it to the biodiversity conference. We want foreign delegates to hear the voice of Telangana,” said Manne Krishank, spokesperson, OUJAC.

He claimed a conference on environment protection in Andhra Pradesh was a contradiction of sorts.

Referring to the Polavaram project, he said, “that itself will damage the environment and displace many families in Telangana and Rayalasema.

So that is also one reason why we will protest there.” He, however, hastened to add that their protest will be peaceful and carried out by only students.

 “We will make ourselves heard democratically. We want the international delegates to know what is going on in this state, and the problems being faced by people in Telanagana region,” he said adding that it was a mere “coincidence” that their protests were coming up around the same time as the conference.

 Mandala Bhaskar, president, TSJAC, said all students will be mobilised to make sure that all those who participate in the Telangana march, reach the destination.

 “No one can stop us, we will definitely go there. If the organisers are serious enough to hold a summit on environment, we will tell them about the environmental violations in the state and country,” Bhaskar said.

They appeared quite confidence of storming the conference! Krishank, who had participated in protests since 2009, was hopeful of getting a chance to speak at conference! “If I can, why not? I will definitely talk to the delegates,” he said.

Asked how will they reach the venue, as thousands of police will be there to prevent them, Krishank replied, “they have been there in the past, and we continued our agitation.” Both said the students were dead set on making the protest successful, come what may.