Harish Rao demands Revanth Reddy’s resignation in Siddipet
SIDDIPET: BRS leader and former minister T Harish Rao on Saturday demanded Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s resignation, accusing the Congress government of failing to implement its six guarantees, withholding fee reimbursement dues and failing to deliver on its promise of two lakh jobs.
Addressing an unemployed youth protest at Ambedkar Chowrasta in Siddipet, Rao said he would raise fee reimbursement, GO No. 97 concerning government polytechnics and recruitment promises during the Assembly session beginning September 7.
“I will question them strongly on your behalf. I will ask whether they will release fee reimbursement or not. I will take up the issue in the Assembly,” Rao said.
Rao vows Assembly fight over fee reimbursement, GO 97
Rao demanded immediate withdrawal of GO No. 97, which relates to the proposed integration of government polytechnic colleges with Young India Skill University. He alleged that the move would lead to privatisation of polytechnic education.
He said students were currently able to complete three-year polytechnic courses at relatively low fees and accused the government of pushing them towards programmes at the Skill University carrying higher fees.
“Polytechnic students want to study engineering and become civil, mechanical and electrical engineers and sub-engineers. You cannot force them towards only fitter, electrician, mechanic or plumber jobs,” Rao said.
He said the Skill University operated under a public-private partnership model and alleged that six-month courses there cost ₹50,000 while one-year programmes cost ₹80,000.
Rao demanded that government polytechnics continue under the existing system and asked the government not to delay a decision by appointing committees.
“I will fight for you. I will fight for polytechnic students. I will fight for fee reimbursement,” he said.
Rao also sought immediate release of fee reimbursement for Intermediate and degree students.
He alleged that the government’s failure to release reimbursement dues was forcing students to discontinue their education and leaving private colleges unable to meet expenses.
Rao said the previous BRS government had spent about ₹2,000 crore every year on fee reimbursement even during the Covid-19 period and financial difficulties. He said the BRS government had spent around ₹20,000 crore on the scheme over nine years, helping students pursue engineering, medicine, pharmacy, law and other courses.
He also said the previous government had cleared ₹2,000 crore in reimbursement dues left by the earlier Congress government.
Rao alleged that no fee reimbursement had been released during what he described as the three years of the Revanth Reddy government.
He cited the case of B Pharmacy students from Sri Krupa Pharmacy College in Gajwel who, he said, had approached him after completing their course.
“They told me, ‘Anna, our B Pharmacy is over, but the college is not giving us our certificates. We have secured seats in M Pharmacy. If we get the certificates, we can join, and the fourth is the last date,’” he said.
Rao said he then contacted the college management.
“The college management said the government had not paid fee reimbursement for three years and that it was unable to pay lecturers’ salaries. They said they could not release the certificates,” Rao said.
He said the students feared losing an academic year if they could not join their M Pharmacy programmes.
Rao accused the government of jeopardising the education of Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Backward Class students by delaying reimbursement.
He also alleged that around 300 private degree colleges had closed across Telangana after Revanth Reddy became chief minister, including five in Siddipet.
“Should children not study in private colleges? Should they not get a good education? Why is fee reimbursement not being released?” he asked.
Harish targets Congress over jobs, election guarantees
Turning to recruitment, Rao said Revanth Reddy had promised two lakh jobs in the first year of the Congress government.
“He said he would give two lakh jobs. Did he?” Rao asked.
