Hyderabad: Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao began a 48-hour hunger strike on Monday demanding the immediate release of pending fee reimbursement dues for students.
Rao launched the BJP fee reimbursement protest at the party’s State headquarters. Police had denied permission to hold the hunger strike at Dharna Chowk.
The BJP claimed the State government owed ₹15,000 crore under the fee reimbursement scheme. It launched the agitation under the banner “Feesula Bakayi-BJP Ladayi,” or BJP’s battle for fee dues.
Addressing supporters at the protest camp, Rao accused the Congress government of jeopardising the future of nearly 40 lakh students. He also alleged that the education system faced a serious crisis. Rao targeted Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, who held the education portfolio, over the alleged delay in clearing the dues.
BJP fee reimbursement protest highlights student concerns
Rao claimed students faced difficulties because the government had not cleared the pending reimbursement amounts. He said some students could not obtain their certificates. Consequently, they faced problems pursuing higher education and employment opportunities.
The BJP would continue its agitation until the fee reimbursement issue received a resolution, Rao said. He added that the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha would continue the campaign across Telangana.
According to Rao, BJP representatives had visited colleges across the State and collected signatures from five lakh students. He said those students had expressed anger over the alleged non-payment of fee arrears.
Rao accused Congress of making several promises through its Youth Declaration before coming to power. However, he alleged that the government had subsequently betrayed students.
BJP fee reimbursement fight to continue: Rao
The BJP president also referred to the government’s response following court proceedings. Rao claimed the government had said it would release ₹2,000 crore as an advance for the following year after facing criticism from the High Court. However, he alleged that it failed to fulfil that assurance.
He also raised the protests held by polytechnic students over their demands. Rao alleged that the Revanth Reddy government had ordered police to use force against protesting polytechnic students.
He further referred to protests by AYUSH and Homeopathy students seeking an increase in their stipends. Rao said he had personally participated in those protests. According to him, the State government had also failed to adequately address the stipend issue.
Rao challenges Rahul Gandhi over Telangana students
Rao also targeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during his address. He accused Gandhi of travelling across the country and provoking students in BJP-ruled states. Rao challenged him to visit Telangana and respond to allegations over pending fee reimbursement dues.
The BJP president said the party would continue pressing the Congress government over student issues. Students and BJP workers attended the hunger strike camp in large numbers and expressed solidarity with the agitation.
BJP MP Rekha Sharma and BJLP leader Aleti Maheshwar Reddy attended the programme. Legislative Council leader AVN Reddy also participated. MPs Raghunandan Rao and Palvai Harish Babu, D.K. Aruna and MLA Venkata Ramana Reddy joined the protest.
MLCs Malka Komuraiah and Anji Reddy were also present. BJP State general secretaries Dr N. Gautam Rao, Veerender Goud and Vemula Ashok attended the programme. State chief spokesperson and media in-charge N.V. Subhash also participated.
Former MLA Bodiga Shobha, State spokespersons and other party office-bearers joined the agitation. Representatives of student organisations also attended the BJP fee reimbursement protest.