A BJP protest in Khammam on Thursday demanding the release of pending fee reimbursement dues to educational institutions turned tense after police detained several party leaders and workers, including district BJP president Nelluri Koteswara Rao. The protest was held at ZP Centre, where BJP workers raised slogans against the Congress government and demanded immediate clearance of the outstanding funds.
The situation escalated when police tried to stop the protesters from moving ahead, leading to an argument and a reported scuffle. Police removed protesters who sat on the road and detained them before taking them to a police station. Before his detention, Rao accused the state government of putting the higher education prospects of poor and middle-class students at risk by delaying fee reimbursement payments.
Rao said the BJP had been campaigning for a month over the issue and claimed that around 40 lakh families across Telangana were affected by the delay. He alleged that colleges were facing financial difficulties due to unpaid dues, with some institutions reportedly withholding students’ original certificates until fees were cleared, making it difficult for graduates to pursue employment opportunities.
