Balka Suman slams Congress over Gurukul student deaths

Former MLA Balka Suman accused the Congress government of negligence in Gurukul schools, linking it to 128 student deaths. He demanded accountability, criticised handling of Dalit issues and alleged diversion from key controversies involving land and mining.

Hyderabad: Former MLA Balka Suman slammed the Congress government over negligence in Gurukul schools, where around 128 students died over the past two years. Calling them State murders, he blamed the government for a lack of regular monitoring and review.

He cited the recent suicide of a student, Sri Vindhu, in a Gurukul school in Chennur, alleging that authorities obstructed BRS leaders from visiting the campus and consoling the bereaved family. He demanded land allocation to the victim’s family, stating that they depended on agriculture for survival.

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Speaking to mediapersons at Telangana Bhavan on Monday, Suman accused the government of neglecting the Gurukula system established during the previous BRS regime. He targeted Minister G Vivek Venkataswamy for not conducting dedicated review meetings on Gurukul issues.

The BRS leader accused the ruling party of politicising Dalit issues to counter the opposition and divert attention from key issues, including alleged land scams and mining scams involving Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy. He rejected allegations against BRS MLA Padi Kaushik Reddy of disrespecting Station Ghanpur MLA Kadiyam Srihari, asserting that the Congress was politicising a non-existent issue to shield itself from the BRS.

He said that he was a Dalit MLA as well, but was arrested and imprisoned for 16 days on false allegations for resisting the Congress’s attempts to win Kyathanpally Municipality. He said the BRS would approach the High Court seeking elections to the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson posts in Kyathanpally Municipality.

Targeting the Congress over unfulfilled promises, Suman said commitments made to SC, ST and BC communities under the Six Guarantees remained largely unimplemented. He contrasted this with the previous BRS government’s initiatives, including welfare measures and projects aimed at Dalit empowerment.