EFLU student leaders detained during protest over RSS-linked campus talk

Several student representatives at the English and Foreign Languages University in Hyderabad were detained on Wednesday while protesting a campus talk by Telangana Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader Lingam Sridhar. The talk was organised under the banner of the Bhagath Singh Youth Club. Student organisations said the event gave an RSS leader a platform inside the university and questioned how the administration had approved it.

Those reported detained included EFLU Students’ Union president Harshad Shibin, general secretary Irfan Shajudheen, joint secretary Haleemathu Sa’adiya, sports secretary Udita and councillors Suaadha Sudheer and Ashmit. Other student leaders from the Disha Student Organisation were also named. The students sought an explanation from the administration about the permission granted for the event.

They alleged that the university had previously refused approval for programmes involving academics, human-rights activists and student leaders while facilitating the RSS-linked meeting. In a statement, student organisations said the administration was promoting what they described as the saffronisation of education. The Fraternity Movement condemned the detentions, saying they occurred before students could hold their planned protest against Sridhar’s talk.

The reported protest and detentions took place as the event was being held on campus. The material does not include a response from the university administration, Osmania University police or Sridhar regarding the allegations. The account also provides no information on how long the students were detained or whether charges were filed against them.

It identifies the incident as part of a dispute over the university’s handling of political and public events, but does not report any disruption to the talk itself.