CityLightBuzz: Hyderabad, September 8: The Telangana BJP has urged Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla to intervene in the long-pending fee reimbursement issue and direct the Congress government to immediately release the outstanding dues, stating that the future of nearly 40 lakh students is being affected by the delay.
A BJP delegation led by Telangana BJP State President N. Ramchander Rao met Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla at Lok Bhavan and submitted a memorandum seeking his intervention. The delegation demanded the immediate release of approximately ₹15,000 crore in fee reimbursement arrears, which it said are directly linked to the education and future prospects of students across the state.
BJP Raises Concern Over ₹15,000 Crore Dues
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Ramchander Rao expressed concern over the uncertainty faced by students awaiting fee reimbursement payments. He alleged that the arrears have accumulated from the previous BRS government and continued under the present Congress administration.
According to Rao, funds for newly admitted students were sanctioned only after interventions by the High Court and sustained protests by the BJP. However, he said substantial older dues remain pending.
The BJP state chief claimed that the delay has created serious difficulties for private colleges. He alleged that some colleges are unable to issue certificates to graduating students because of unpaid fee reimbursement amounts, potentially affecting their higher education and employment opportunities.
He further stated that private degree, engineering and pharmacy colleges are facing financial pressure due to the pending reimbursements, with some institutions allegedly struggling to pay faculty salaries in full.
Demand for Special Assembly Discussion
Ramchander Rao also criticised the ongoing Telangana Assembly proceedings, alleging that the Congress and BRS were diverting attention from the fee reimbursement issue.He demanded that the government stop what he termed diversionary politics and dedicate at least one full day of the ongoing Assembly session to a special discussion on fee reimbursement arrears.
The BJP leader said both the previous BRS government and the present Congress government should take responsibility for resolving the issue and urged the government to prioritise students’ education and future.
BJP Condemns Police Action Against Protesters
Rao also criticised the police action during recent student and BJP protests over fee reimbursement. He alleged that protesters were subjected to lathi charges, preventive arrests and cases, and claimed that several BJP and BJYM activists were injured and hospitalised.
He demanded the unconditional withdrawal of cases registered against party workers and activists involved in the protests.
Rao said the BJP would wait for a few days for the government to respond following the delegation’s meeting with the Governor. If the government fails to take action, he warned that the BJP would intensify its statewide agitation in coordination with students.
BJP Leaders Visit Injured Activists
Later, Ramchander Rao and other BJP leaders visited Srihari Hospital at Lakdikapul to meet Jangaon District BJP President Chowda Ramesh, who was undergoing treatment after allegedly sustaining injuries during the police lathi charge near the Assembly during the Chalo Assembly rally.
The BJP delegation included State General Secretaries Dr. N. Gautham Rao, T. Veerender Goud and Vemula Ashok, State Vice Presidents M. Jayasree and Dr. Kalyan Naik, State Secretaries Mahipal Reddy and Bharat Prasad, Chief Spokesperson and Media In-charge N. V. Subhash, BJYM State President Ganesh Kunde, and other Yuva Morcha activists who were injured during the protest.
