Telangana BJP warns of intensified stir over pending fee reimbursement dues
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Telangana has threatened to intensify its agitation against the state government over the delayed release of fee reimbursement and scholarship funds to students. Addressing a protest organised by the party's youth wing, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), in Karimnagar on Thursday, state BJP president N. Ramchander Rao said the party would stand with students until the government released the pending dues.
"If the government continues to play with the future of students by withholding fee reimbursement and scholarship funds, we will stand with the students and continue our agitation until it relents and releases the necessary funds," Mr. Rao asserted. He accused the previous BRS government of leaving nearly ₹8,000 crore in fee reimbursement dues pending, and also criticised the present Congress government for its alleged negligence in releasing funds.
Mr. Rao claimed that the state Cabinet had decided to release ₹2,000 crore in advance towards fee reimbursement only after the High Court intervened, but no money had been disbursed so far. He expressed concern that nearly 20 lakh students were awaiting reimbursement, causing financial stress for families and difficulties for college managements in paying faculty salaries. This, he said, was affecting the functioning of educational institutions across the state.
BJYM state president Ganesh Kunde and other party leaders also addressed the gathering, echoing demands for immediate action.
In a separate development in Hyderabad, BJP Legislature Party leader A. Maheshwar Reddy continued his criticism of Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy over alleged fraudulent land deals. Mr. Reddy claimed the minister was avoiding an open debate at the Legislative Assembly media point on the issue, stating, "The Minister stayed away because he is guilty. His absence proves that he has no faith in democratic debate."
The BJP leader reiterated his demand for the minister's resignation, alleging that junior officers were being made scapegoats. He said the party would take the matter to the people and continue its fight until a comprehensive inquiry into the alleged land transactions was conducted.
