Fee reimbursement protests rock Hyderabad, BJP leaders detained
Protests demanding release of Telangana’s pending fee reimbursement dues rocked Hyderabad on Thursday. BJP leaders and BJYM activists attempted to besiege the Secretariat, while ABVP held a Fee Deeksha, alleging Rs 11,000 crore in dues remained unpaid.
Hyderabad: Protests demanding the Telangana Congress government release fee reimbursement dues rocked the city on Thursday. While BJP leaders and BJYM activists tried to besiege the State Secretariat, the ABVP organised a ‘fee Deeksha’ at Dharna Chowk.
Tension prevailed at Secretariat when BJP state president N Ramchander Rao, along with party leaders marched towards the gate to submit a representation signed by over eight lakh students demanding immediate release of long-pending fee reimbursement dues of Rs 11,000 crore.
A scuffle broke out between the police and the protesters as the latter attempted to go past the barricades set up by security personnel to gain entry into the Secretariat. The police intervened and dispersed the protesters.
During the commotion, BJP State President N Ramchander Rao and BJLP leader Aleti Maheshwar Reddy were taken into custody and shifted to Chikkadpally Police Station.
At ‘Fee Deeksha’ ABVP national secretary Balakrishna said the education sector in Telangana has plunged into a crisis under Congress rule. He noted that the non-release of scholarships over the past four to five years has led to the closure of educational institutions and a rise in dropout rates in higher education.
ABVP state secretary Macherla Rambabu said Telangana Congress government was conspiring to scrap the fee reimbursement scheme. He pointed out that while 20 lakh students in the State rely on the government funds for their education, arrears amounting to Rs.11,000 crore have accumulated as the government failed to release the reimbursements on time.
