Hans News Service Hyderabad

BJP State president N Ramchander Rao on Thursday warned the Telangana government that the party would intensify its agitation in support of students until pending fee-reimbursement dues and scholarships were released.

Addressing the “Fee Bakayi—BJP Ladayi” Maha Dharna organised by the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) in Karimnagar, Rao accused the Congress government of failing to fulfil its promises to students and alleged that the delay in releasing funds was pushing students, parents and educational institutions into severe financial distress.

Rao alleged that around Rs 8,000 crore in fee-reimbursement dues were pending from the previous government and criticised the Congress government for failing to clear them after coming to power. He claimed that the State Cabinet had decided to release Rs 2,000 crore as an advance following the High Court’s intervention, but alleged that the amount had not yet been released.

He said nearly 20 lakh students across Telangana were awaiting fee-reimbursement clearances. The delay, he alleged, had left college managements struggling to pay faculty salaries and threatened the functioning of educational institutions. Rao accused the Congress of failing to honour the promises made under the ‘Youth Declaration’ and warned that the BJP would continue its agitation until the government addressed the issue. “If this government plays with the lives of students without releasing fee reimbursement and scholarships, the BJP will intensify its agitation,” he said. BJYM State president Ganesh Kunde said the youth wing had been campaigning for the past month over students’ issues.