BJP to Hold 48-Hour ‘Fee Bakayi - BJP Ladayi’ Protest Over ₹15,000 Crore Fee Reimbursement Dues

Protest Announced

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Telangana has announced a 48-hour protest on August 24 and 25 under the slogan “Fee Bakayi – BJP Ladayi”, demanding the immediate release of nearly ₹15,000 crore in pending fee reimbursement dues to private colleges. The protest was announced by BJP leader Alleti Maheshwar Reddy, who released the campaign poster and alleged that the Congress government had jeopardised the future of lakhs of students.

According to Deccan Chronicle, Maheshwar Reddy said colleges were withholding certificates over non-payment of dues, forcing parents to pledge gold and borrow money to pay fees. He also pointed out that Telangana had no separate education minister and that the Chief Minister, who held the portfolio, had allocated only 7–8 per cent of the Budget to education. He further stated that 1,752 girls’ schools lacked toilets and 21,126 of the state’s 30,014 schools were in a dilapidated condition. He recalled raising issues of food-poisoning incidents and hunger among Gurukul students in the Assembly.

“Promising reimbursement to new students without clearing old dues is sheer deception. The Chief Minister has time for foreign tours but none to protect students’ futures,” Maheshwar Reddy alleged.

Hunger Strike and Political Challenge

The Hindu reported that Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao launched a 48-hour hunger strike at the BJP State office in Hyderabad in support of students demanding the release of the dues. Rao challenged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who he said was “travelling across the country and provoking students in BJP-ruled states”, to come to Telangana and give answers on the issue of fee reimbursement dues “if he has the courage”.

Rao accused the Congress government of neglecting the education sector and jeopardising the future of nearly 40 lakh students in Telangana. He criticised what he described as the “stubborn attitude and authoritarian approach” of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy — who also holds the education portfolio — and said this had pushed the education system into a severe crisis. The non-release of fee reimbursement dues, he said, has caused widespread hardship for students studying in professional and higher educational institutions.

Rao further alleged that despite assurances given after criticism from the High Court, the government had failed to release even the promised ₹2,000 crore advance for the next academic year. He asserted that the BJP would continue its agitation until the issue is resolved, and said the party stood firmly with students across the state.

Student Support and Police Action

The BJP leader claimed that party workers had toured colleges across Telangana and collected signatures from nearly five lakh students who were unhappy with the Congress government’s failure to clear fee reimbursement arrears.

Rao also charged the police with lathi-charging polytechnic students when they had raised grievances, and accused the government of ignoring the ongoing agitation by Ayush and Homeopathy students seeking an increase in their stipends. Earlier, police denied permission for him to hold the protest at the designated ‘Dharna Chowk’ near Indira Park, he said.

Several senior BJP leaders, including MP Rekha Sharma and BJP Legislature Party leader Aleti Maheshwar Reddy, extended support to the protest, as reported by The Hindu.