BRS leaders target Congress government over zero enrollment in schools, toddy tappers and farmers’ issues

Sabitha Indra Reddy stated that the BRS legislators who raised the question in the Assembly, were deprived the opportunity to seek clarity from the State government, after the session was adjourned. "The Ministers feared to face us in the Assembly on the issues plaguing education sector and hence, the answers were provided only in writing without giving scope for discussion in the House," she added.

Hyderabad: Former Minister P Sabitha Indra Reddy flagged the declining student enrollment in government schools and their closure. She said around 1,913 schools in Telangana recorded zero enrollment and another 4,000 schools had less than 10 students, which are now facing a threat of closure.

Speaking to mediapersons after the House was adjourned for Monday, Sabitha Indra Reddy stated that the BRS legislators who raised the question in the Assembly, were deprived the opportunity to seek clarity from the State government, after the session was adjourned. “The Ministers feared to face us in the Assembly on the issues plaguing education sector and hence, the answers were provided only in writing without giving scope for discussion in the House,” she added.

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The former Minister said lambasted the State government for discontinuing morning breakfast programme introduced under the BRS regime. She criticised the Congress for failing to address questions raised in the Assembly, amid increasing deaths of students in residential welfare schools due to negligence. She reminded that the State government did not fulfill any of its 20 promises on education and called for a review of school closures.

Quthbullapur MLA KP Vivekananda raised concerns about the government’s policies weakening the toddy tappers’ profession, alleging that the Congress government is targeting them with illegal cases and failing to eliminate belt shops, as promised. He criticised the rising prevalence of drugs and ganja in rural areas, linking it to the Congress government’s inefficiency in controlling substance abuse. He vowed to fight against belt shops and protect the livelihoods of toddy tappers.

In a response to the questions raised by Vivekananda and other BRS MLAs, Excise Minister Jupally Krishna Rao rubbished to have issued memos to the officials for shortfall in liquor sales. He said around Rs 20,903 crore were earned till November this year, through Excise and VAT against liquor sales. He further made it clear that there is no clear definition for belt shops as sought by the BRS, but informed that around 6,915 cases were booked and 6,728 cases were registered.

Meanwhile, former Minister G Jagadish Reddy charged the Congress with running away from public issues, especially the mistreatment of Lagacherla farmers. He alleged that tribal farmers were jailed unjustly, with one farmer suffering a heart attack in custody. He also criticised the government for demolishing poor people’s homes in the name of development and neglecting paddy production issues.