The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : People's War student wing spreads its wings

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Oct 04, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

People's War student wing spreads its wings

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, OCT. 3. As People's War (PW) and Janashakti naxalites decide to come out of hiding and talk with the Government, the PW students' wing, Radical Students Union (RSU), is attempting to strengthen its base in the Osmania University campus.

A meeting conducted by naxalite sympathisers on the campus just four days after the lifting of the ban on the PW indicates the party's plan to make inroads into the campus, considered to be key to any party in spreading its activities.

Curiosity or interest?

According to a research scholar, the response from students was encouraging at the meeting conducted at Landscape gardens, but it was yet to be ascertained whether it was mere curiosity about the outfit or genuine interest in the party's ideology.

Since then, RSU activists are said to be in touch with several students in the hostels, propagating their ideology discreetly. "Meetings are certainly on; they don't want to come out in open so soon," says a student in the Thungabhadra hostel. "The number of students from the campus who attended the PW public meeting in Hyderabad recently points to the interest generated among students."

The RSU had a good presence in the hostels in the late 80s and early 90s, though students rarely used to identify themselves with the organisation due to fear of the police. The sensational killing of Chandra Reddy, an ABVP leader, in one of the hostels in broad daylight, reflected the organisation's brute presence.

Rural students

A professor from the Arts College says extremist outfits always had an eye on universities, keeping in mind the importance of a strong base on campus. "The large number of rural students on the campus will help PW in its plans, as majority of them are already exposed to its ideology at the degree level in the districts," he says.

Other student organisations say they are not bothered about RSU's intention to enter campus politics but seem worried over its militant image. With the academic year having begun only a couple of months ago, one can expect a lot of activity from RSU during the year.

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