CityLightBuzz: Hyderabad, Former Minister and BRS Legislature Party Deputy Floor Leader T. Harish Rao extended his support to students protesting against GO No. 97 at the Government Polytechnic College in Masab Tank, Hyderabad. Harish Rao, who is also an alumnus of the same college, said the BRS would stand firmly with the students and demanded the immediate withdrawal of the government order.
Speaking at the protest, Harish Rao strongly criticised the Congress government and Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, alleging that the decision to merge government polytechnic colleges with ITIs and bring them under the Young India Skill University framework could jeopardise the future of nearly one lakh students.
Harish Rao alleged that the Skill University is being operated under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model and questioned the future of government polytechnic institutions if they are transferred to the university.
According to him, Telangana has 113 polytechnic colleges, of which 59 government colleges are proposed to be brought under the new arrangement. He claimed that this could affect students studying in these institutions and put their educational future at risk.
Allegations Over Polytechnic Properties
Harish Rao alleged that the government was more interested in the valuable lands and properties of polytechnic colleges than in the future of students.
He claimed that government buildings and lands worth thousands of crores of rupees could potentially be mortgaged to banks to raise loans.
“The government should focus on students rather than the properties of educational institutions,” he said, alleging that the move was connected to the value of the lands held by government colleges.
Concerns Over Students’ Career Opportunities
Harish Rao said students studying in polytechnic colleges are capable of pursuing both technical and professional careers and cited examples of diploma holders working as Assistant Engineers, Motor Vehicle Inspectors and Water Works Engineers.
He said that currently, students can complete their polytechnic education with relatively affordable fees and then pursue engineering through lateral entry.
He expressed concern that if polytechnic colleges are shifted under the Skill University, students could lose existing lateral-entry opportunities.
He also questioned whether fees would remain affordable in the future and asked whether students could be assured of continued fee reimbursement under a PPP-based university structure.
“Why should students who are currently studying in government colleges be pushed towards private institutions?” he questioned.“This Is a Fight for One Lakh Students”
Harish Rao said the issue was not limited to one college but concerned nearly one lakh polytechnic students across Telangana.Referring to recent youth-led protests in other parts of the country, he said the younger generation should actively fight for its educational rights.
He praised students who had been protesting for nearly 20 days, demanding the cancellation of GO No. 97.
Harish Rao also criticised the police response to the protests, alleging that students were being subjected to excessive restrictions.
He referred to an alleged incident in Mahabubabad, where he claimed a police officer held a protesting student by the throat. He also referred to an incident in Suryapet, alleging that a student was arrested and subsequently released following protests by other students.
He said the Gen-Z generation should not be viewed merely as young people making reels and videos, but as a generation capable of taking to the streets to defend its future.
Warning of Secretariat Protest
Harish Rao demanded that the government withdraw GO No. 97 before the Assembly session begins on September 7.
He warned that if the government failed to withdraw the order, the BRS would stand with the students and, if necessary, organise a Secretariat siege involving one lakh students.
He also criticised the government for setting up committees, calling them an attempt to delay the issue and weaken the student movement.
Harish Rao demanded that polytechnic education remain under direct government control.
Opposition to Alleged Transfer of Government Lands
Harish Rao alleged that the government had already taken steps involving valuable lands belonging to institutions such as Osmania University, the University of Hyderabad and the agricultural university.
He questioned whether the government was now targeting the properties of government polytechnic colleges as well.
He also claimed that similar attempts to merge polytechnic colleges with universities in Delhi and Andhra Pradesh had failed and were subsequently withdrawn.
Attack on Fee Reimbursement Policy
Harish Rao further criticised the Congress government over the alleged delay in releasing fee reimbursement funds.
He questioned how the government could guarantee the future of students in a private or PPP-based university structure when, according to him, it had failed to
adequately address fee reimbursement for students under the existing system.
He urged unemployed youth and students to openly fight for their rights and assured them of BRS support.
Harish Rao Responds to Revanth Reddy’s Remarks on Foreign Travel
Harish Rao also responded to remarks attributed to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy regarding foreign travel permissions for himself and K.T. Rama Rao.
He said both he and KTR are only MLAs and claimed that an MLA does not require permission from the Central Government merely to travel abroad.
He explained that government permission is required when a person travels abroad in an official capacity as a Chief Minister or Union Minister, and accused Revanth Reddy of making uninformed statements.
Harish Rao advised the Chief Minister not to make statements without understanding the relevant rules.
He reiterated that the BRS would continue to support the students and fight against GO No. 97 until it is withdrawn.
Note: The allegations and political claims in this article are attributed to BRS leader T. Harish Rao and have not been independently verified.
