There was widespread criticism after Hyderabad Police did not allow the mortal remains of former Delhi University professor and activist GN Saibaba to be kept inside the Martyrs’ Memorial at Gun Park. Students, friends and fellow activists wanted to keep his body at the memorial and pay their last respects since he had played a key role in the Telangana movement which had secured statehood for the region. Finally, his body was kept at his residence at Moula Ali before it was donated to Gandhi Hospital.

As announced earlier, the body of Saibaba, who died on 12 October at Nizam Institute of Medical Sciences, was taken today to the Telangana Martyrs Memorial at Gun Park. However, cops did not allow his mortal remains to be kept there saying it was a “VIP area” and there was no permission. The Gun Park is located just outside the Telangana Assembly Building. The activists and Left leaders accompanying the body kept the hearse van at the Park for an hour as they argued with the police and raised slogans of “Saibaba amar rahe’ and ‘Lal Salaam’. The mourners then took the body to his residence at Moula Ali where they shared his memories, sang songs and held placards. In the evening a procession accompanied his body to Gandhi hospital. His eyes were also donated to LV Prasad Eye Hospital right after his demise.

Prof Saibaba had mobilised nearly 2 lakh people for a massive public meeting in Warangal in December 1998 which led to the Warangal declaration supporting statehood for Telangana, a significant milestone in the struggle. “Is this the Mohabbat ki dukaan you keep fooling people about Rahul Gandhiji? Shameless double standards! The Telangana police under the instructions of your party colleague Revanth Reddy have stopped professor Saibaba’s body from being placed at the Telangana Martyr’s Memorial in Hyderabad. Family members, civil society leaders and civil rights activists expressed their anguish at this draconian act,” said Konatham Dilip of the BRS. Krishank, BRS spokesperson took a dig saying “Who said Congress government is democratic!”

CPI leader K Narayana said he will write to the Chief Justice of India and urge him to find out the culprit behind the long incarceration of the wheel chair bound academic and human rights activist. Several leaders paid their respects to the human rights activist including MLC M Kodandaram, veteran Congressman K Keshava Rao, BRS leaders KT Rama Rao and T Harish Rao.