Telangana BJP President Ends Fast Over Student Fee Dues

Telangana BJP President N. Ramchander Rao launched a hunger strike on August 24 in Hyderabad to demand the release of between Rs 12,000 crore and Rs 15,000 crore in pending student fee reimbursements. Rao claimed the Government of Telangana failed to clear these dues, preventing 40 lakh students from securing employment or pursuing higher education. He specifically challenged Rahul Gandhi to visit the state and ensure the funds are released.

Minister for Transport and BC Welfare Ponnam Prabhakar dismissed the protest as political drama, stating the Congress government is currently clearing debts left by the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi administration. Prabhakar challenged Rao to secure funds owed to the state by the Central government and announced that the state would provide advance fee reimbursements to SC, ST, BC, and minority students starting this academic year.

Rao ended his fast on August 25 following medical advice due to falling blood pressure and sugar levels. BJP MP K. Laxman concluded the fast by offering Rao lemon juice and criticized Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy for neglecting education issues and teacher retirement benefits. Despite ending the fast, Rao vowed to intensify the struggle and threatened to organize protests at the Secretariat if the government does not deliver justice to the affected students.