Hyderabad, August 24: The political landscape in Telangana is heating up over the pending fee reimbursement issue. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has initiated a 48-hour hunger strike at its state headquarters in Hyderabad, demanding the release of approximately ₹15,000 crore in pending fee reimbursements. BJP leaders have accused the Congress government of neglecting the education sector and jeopardizing the futures of millions of students.
BJP MP Rekha Sharma has voiced her support for the movement, criticizing the Congress government for ignoring the students’ voices and their issues. She stated, “The Telangana BJP president is on a two-day hunger strike. This was necessary because the current and previous governments seem to have gone mute. The government neither listens nor speaks. When it comes to students, the government remains completely silent.”
Sharma claimed that nearly 1 million students protested in November for fee reimbursement, at which time approximately ₹6,000 crore was pending, affecting students from SC, ST, and OBC categories. She alleged that this amount has now escalated to over ₹12,000 crore, which has yet to be disbursed to educational institutions.
The BJP MP accused large private colleges and the government of colluding, negatively impacting the education system, while smaller colleges face the brunt of the difficulties. “Wherever there are large private colleges, a gang is making money with the government’s help. However, smaller colleges, whether private or government, are suffering due to government policies. Students are neither receiving fee reimbursements nor quality education. Many students are forced to drop out because their families cannot afford the fees, and colleges are not receiving reimbursements,” she explained.
Sharma noted that several engineering colleges in the state are on the brink of closure, exacerbating the unemployment crisis. She criticized Congress for merely making statements regarding youth and student issues.
Addressing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, she challenged him to visit Telangana, engage with students, and listen to their problems. “Only then will he understand the circumstances these students are facing,” she asserted.
Sharma warned that discontent among students towards the government is rising and will be reflected in the upcoming elections. “Students will hold the government accountable in the municipal elections and future assembly elections,” she added.
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