Telangana BJP chief fasts over ₹15,000 crore student fee backlog crisis

Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao began a 48-hour hunger strike at the party's state headquarters in Hyderabad on Monday, demanding immediate release of approximately ₹15,000 crore in pending fee reimbursement dues owed to nearly 40 lakh students.

Challenge to Rahul Gandhi

Mr. Rao directly challenged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who has been "travelling across the country and provoking students in BJP-ruled states", to visit Telangana and answer questions about the fee reimbursement crisis "if he has the courage".

Congress government accused of education crisis

The BJP leader accused Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy—who also holds the education portfolio—of pushing the "education system into a severe crisis" through what he termed a "stubborn attitude and authoritarian approach". The non-release of dues has caused widespread hardship for students in professional and higher educational institutions.

Despite assurances following High Court criticism, the government failed to release even a promised ₹2,000 crore advance for the next academic year, Mr. Rao alleged.

Wider student unrest cited

Mr. Rao claimed BJP workers had toured colleges statewide and collected signatures from nearly five lakh students unhappy with the Congress government's failure to clear arrears. He also accused police of lathi-charging polytechnic students who raised grievances, and said the government was ignoring ongoing protests by Ayush and Homeopathy students seeking stipend increases.

Police had earlier denied Mr. Rao permission to hold the demonstration at the designated Dharna Chowk near Indira Park.

BJP vows sustained agitation

Asserting that the party would continue its agitation until the matter is resolved, Mr. Rao said the BJP "stood firmly with students across the State". Several senior BJP leaders including MP Rekha Sharma, BJP Legislature Party leader Aleti Maheshwar Reddy, and MPs D. Arvind, Raghunandan Rao and D.K. Aruna joined the protest and criticised the Congress government.

Source: The Hindu