BRS backs polytechnic students’ stir against GO 97

BRS leaders RS Praveen Kumar and Chirumalla Rakesh Kumar extended support to polytechnic students protesting against G.O. No. 97, alleging it would weaken polytechnic education and benefit private interests.

Hyderabad: The BRS extended support to the statewide agitation by polytechnic students against GO 97, assuring them that the party would pressure the Congress government to withdraw the order.

A delegation of polytechnic students met BRS general secretary RS Praveen Kumar and former corporation chairman Chirumalla Rakesh Kumar at Telangana Bhavan on Thursday, and apprised them of their concerns. The students said the government had failed to respond to their protests and sought the BRS’s support.

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Speaking on the occasion, Praveen Kumar said students who should be in classrooms were being forced onto the streets to protest against GO 97. He alleged that thousands of polytechnic students across Telangana were protesting but the Congress government was not willing to listen to their grievances.

He demanded the suspension of Mahabubabad CI Raghupathi Reddy, alleging that he had attempted to choke a student during a protest in the district. He also wanted Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy to immediately withdraw GO 97 after hearing the students’ grievances.

Questioning the rationale behind the proposed changes, the BRS leader said students completing polytechnic courses could pursue engineering through ECET or obtain jobs. He asked why such opportunities should be curtailed. He suspected that the Young India Skill University was an even bigger conspiracy to boost the real estate value of lands purchased by the Chief Minister’s family within the vicinity of the proposed Fourth City project.

Rakesh Kumar alleged that the government was attempting to destroy the polytechnic education system and claim valuable land attached to polytechnic colleges. He alleged that GO 97 would reduce polytechnic students to workers instead of enabling them to become engineers.

Rakesh Kumar also questioned the proposed PPP (Public-Private Partnership) model for polytechnic education and alleged that the move would benefit private interests.

He said the students’ demand was legitimate and urged the government to withdraw GO 97. The BRS leaders warned that the party would stand by the students and intensify pressure on the government if the order was not revoked.