T'gana BJP Chief Goes on Hunger Strike

Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao on Monday launched a 48-hour hunger strike, demanding that the State government release the pending reimbursement dues.

He alleged that the Congress government’s failure to clear pending fee reimbursement dues of nearly Rs 15,000 crore has put the future of 40 lakh students at stake.

The BJP leader claimed that the youth of Telangana have taken up the fight against the Congress government.

“This government has miserably failed to implement every major promise made to students and youth. Due to the Congress government's negligence and irresponsibility, Telangana's education system has plunged into a severe crisis. The education, jobs, and futures of lakhs of students have become uncertain. The Congress government should remember one thing — these very students and youth you've deceived will topple your government tomorrow,” said Ramchander Rao.

He also challenged the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, to visit Telangana and get the pending fee reimbursement dues released. “If Rahul Gandhi truly has the guts, and if he genuinely cares about students' futures as he's been claiming lately, he should come to Telangana and get the pending fee reimbursement dues released through his Congress government,” he said.

The BJP leader claimed that 40 lakh students are suffering because the Congress party has failed to release the pending fee reimbursement dues. “These students are unable to pursue higher education or take up employment because educational institutions have withheld their certificates over pending fee reimbursements. Nearly Rs 15,000 crore in dues are pending, putting the education, careers and future of our students at stake,” he said.

Ramchander Rao said the BJP would fight until the government is compelled to release the pending dues and deliver justice to every student.

Meanwhile, Minister for Transport and BC Welfare, Ponnam Prabhakar, alleged that Ramchander Rao was staging fee reimbursement dramas just to protect his own existence.

“If you have the guts, bring the funds from Delhi. If you truly have pure intentions, I challenge you to go to Delhi and bring the funds that the Central government owes to Telangana,” he said.

The minister said that the Congress government was clearing the old dues kept pending by the previous government of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS).

Ponnam Prabhakar said that, starting from this academic year, the government will be providing advance fee reimbursements through banks to SC, ST, BC, and minority students without any hassle. He said the government was also allocating funds to welfare hostels via the green channel. He questioned Ramchander Rao if any state ruled by the BJP is implementing a fee reimbursement scheme.