Indian Science Congress deferred due to Osmania turbulence

For the first time, the Indian Science Congress has been deferred, owing to the turbulent environment prevailing on the Osmania University campus,  where the prestigious event was slated to take place.

The 105th Indian Science Congress with the focal theme  'Reaching the unreached through science and technology' was originally scheduled to take place from January 3 to 7.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was to inaugurate the event.

The event  has previously been held here in 1996. Last year's edition of the Congress had taken place at  Venkateswara University in Tirupati  and the edition before that at Andhra University.

"The event has been deferred for many reasons. A formal decision will be taken at the organising committee on December 27," university Vice-Chancellor S Ramachandram said.

The  new schedule will also be decided at the meeting.

Prof Reddya Naik, one of the two secretaries for the Indian Science Congress Association, said  Osmania authorities have communicated to the state government that the prevailing conditions on the campus have the potential to cause disturbance to the prestigious event, in which 15 Nobel laureates from different countries and over 2,000 other scientists are expected to participate.

Osmania University, which was the focal point for unrest during the decade-long agitation for Telangana, was on the boil recently over the issue of unemployment.

A 21-year-old M Sc (Physics) student, Eramina Murali,  a native of  Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's constituency, had committed suicide on December 3 at the university hostel.

Students claim he took the step as a result of the anger and discontent over the lack of government jobs after the creation of Telangana.

A  huge protest was organised by Adivasi students earlier this week seeking the exclusion of the Lambada community from the Scheduled Tribe reservations list.

Adivasis have been agitating in the north Telangana districts for a couple of months.

Some members of the non-teaching staff have gone on a hunger strike seeking solution to the grievances from the past  month.

Many however feel the government must first hold talks with  the students to create a cordial atmosphere. They feel the TRS government has not kept a single promise that it has made, including the one  about  an assistance of Rs 100 crore to Osmania.