1 week ago
Telangana BJP Begins 48-Hour Hunger Strike Over Fee Arrears
The Telangana BJP has started a 48-hour hunger strike about money that colleges say they are owed for student fee reimbursements.
The BJP says the unpaid amount is between ₹12,000 crore and ₹15,000 crore, depending on the party leader making the estimate.
It says nearly 40 lakh students may be affected.
BJP leaders claim some colleges are withholding students’ certificates because they have not received the money.
This could make it harder for students to continue studying or find jobs, according to the BJP.
The protest was held at the BJP headquarters because police did not allow it at Dharna Chowk.
Students, parents, teachers and college representatives attended.
Telangana minister Ponnam Prabhakar rejected the BJP’s position and said the government is clearing older dues.
He also said the government will provide advance reimbursements to eligible students through banks this academic year.
Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao began a 48-hour hunger strike at the party headquarters in Hyderabad on Monday.
The BJP is demanding release of pending fee-reimbursement dues, estimated by different party leaders at ₹12,000 crore to nearly ₹15,000 crore.
The party says nearly 40 lakh students are affected, with some unable to obtain certificates or pursue higher education and employment.
The protest was moved from Dharna Chowk after police denied permission, and students, parents, educators and college representatives joined it.
Minister Ponnam Prabhakar said the Congress government was clearing dues inherited from the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi government and would provide advance reimbursements this academic year.
- Who
- Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao, BJP leaders, students, parents, educators and educational-institution representatives; Minister Ponnam Prabhakar stated the Congress government’s position.
- What
- A 48-hour hunger strike demanding payment of pending fee-reimbursement dues.
- Where
- At the Telangana BJP headquarters in Hyderabad, after permission was denied for Dharna Chowk.
- When
- It began on Monday and was scheduled to continue for 48 hours.
- Why
- The BJP says delayed reimbursements are affecting students, colleges and the wider education system, while the government says it is clearing old dues and arranging advance payments.
BJP’s Claims and Demands
Congress Government’s Response
Scale of unpaid dues
BJP’s Claims and Demands
The BJP says pending fee-reimbursement arrears range from ₹12,000 crore to nearly ₹15,000 crore and affect nearly 40 lakh students. BJP leaders say unpaid dues have created difficulties for students and educational institutions.
Congress Government’s Response
Minister Ponnam Prabhakar did not accept the BJP’s framing and said the Congress government was clearing old dues left pending by the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi government.
Impact on students
BJP’s Claims and Demands
BJP leaders say colleges have withheld original certificates, preventing some students from pursuing higher education or employment. They demand full release of the arrears and continuation of the reimbursement scheme.
Congress Government’s Response
Ponnam Prabhakar said the government would provide advance fee reimbursements through banks to eligible SC, ST, BC and minority students from this academic year.
Responsibility for the crisis
BJP’s Claims and Demands
The BJP blamed Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and the Congress government, alleging that they weakened reimbursement and scholarship schemes and failed to honor a reported promise to release ₹2,000 crore as an advance. BJP leaders also challenged Rahul Gandhi to intervene.
Congress Government’s Response
Ponnam Prabhakar accused Ramchander Rao of staging a fee-reimbursement protest for political reasons and challenged him to obtain funds that the Central government allegedly owes Telangana. The articles do not provide a fuller response from Revanth Reddy or Rahul Gandhi.
Key facts
- Protest banner
- “Feesula Bakayi – BJP Ladayi,” meaning the BJP’s battle for fee dues.
- Reported arrears
- BJP accounts estimate pending dues at ₹12,000 crore to nearly ₹15,000 crore; the articles contain differing figures.
- Students reportedly affected
- Nearly 40 lakh, according to BJP leaders.
- Protest duration
- 48 hours.
- Signature campaign
- The BJP said it collected five lakh student signatures in support of its demands.
- Courses represented
- Engineering, degree, polytechnic, medical, Ayurveda and homeopathy.
- Universities represented
- Osmania, Kakatiya, Palamuru, Telangana and Satavahana universities.
- Government plan
- Ponnam Prabhakar said advance reimbursements would be provided through banks to SC, ST, BC and minority students from the current academic year.
Quotes
M Raghunandan Rao
BJP MP from Medak who questioned the Chief Minister’s priorities and handling of student fee arrears.
“A self-proclaimed youth leader, Rahul Gandhi has time for other States, but none for Telangana’s 40 lakh students left in the lurch by his own party government by not releasing Rs 12,000 crore in fee reimbursement dues. Why is he silent when Congress governs here?”
thehansindia.com
“If Rahul Gandhi truly has the guts, and if he genuinely cares about students’ futures as he’s been claiming lately, he should come to Telangana and get the pending fee reimbursement dues released through his Congress government.”
thehansindia.com
Ponnam Prabhakar
Telangana Minister for Transport and BC Welfare
“If you have the guts, bring the funds from Delhi. If you truly have pure intentions, I challenge you to go to Delhi and bring the funds that the Central government owes to Telangana.”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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