A. Narendra

HYDERABAD: The State Government has ordered inquiry into the canvassing by professors of Osmania and Kakatiya Universities on behalf of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in the recent byelection to Karimnagar Parliamentary constituency.

Principal Secretary, Higher Education, has sought information from the Registrars of the universities whether the activities of their staff in interior villages of the constituency were "consistent with their service rules and duty status".

The inquiry was ordered based on a letter from the Returning Officer and Collector of Karimnagar on November 29.

`Uncalled for'

Releasing the communiqué of the Principal Secretary at a news conference here on Sunday, senior TRS leader, A. Narendra, said the act of the Government was uncalled for as universities were autonomous bodies and their staff were free to work for social causes.

In fact, creating social awareness among people was basic to the professional duties of professors as intellectuals, he said.

The Government was blowing out of proportion, the role played by the academics as if it was a crime. Never in the past had they been admonished although they played an active role in politics on behalf of Telugu Desam, Congress and BJP.

It was unfortunate that only TRS and professors supporting separate Telangana were targeted.

Citing examples

Mr. Narendra said no action was taken against C. Laxmanna and Y. Laxmi Prasad, both ex-MPs, and Pinninti Varalaxmi and Sobha Hymavathi, ex-MLAs (all from TDP) and K. Haribabu, ex-MLA of BJP, although they plunged into politics while continuing to be faculty members of universities.

K.C. Reddy, now Chairman of State Council of Higher Education, was the convenor of Intellectuals Cell of AP Congress Committee (APCC) when he was on the rolls of Andhra University as professor.

The TRS leader alleged that the Government was trying to harass and threaten academics from Telangana.

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