YSRCP accuses Andhra government of suppressing dissent over tribal school relocation

Protest and Detention

On Tuesday, police detained several YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leaders, including former Deputy Chief Minister and former Tribal Welfare Minister Pushpa Sreevani, at Marikavalasa in Andhra Pradesh's Visakhapatnam district, according to The Hindu. The detentions occurred as leaders and supporters gathered to oppose the state government's plan to convert the Marikavalasa AP Tribal Welfare Residential Boys' English Medium School into a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for NEET and IIT coaching.

The detained leaders included Pushpa Sreevani, Visakhapatnam district YSRCP president K. Raju, YSRCP MLC Varudu Kalyani, and Araku MLA Regam Matsyalingam, the newspaper reported. Police shifted them to stations in Anandapuram, Bheemunipatnam, and PM Palem. A separate ANI report said police arrested two YSRCP leaders—Pushpa Sreevani and Balaraju—on September 1, after North Zone ACP Appalaraju directed Sreevani to board a police vehicle.

The protest stems from the government's decision to stop the residential school's current operations and convert it into a Centre of Excellence offering specialized coaching for national-level entrance examinations like NEET and IIT. The school, which has been operating for 20 years, according to YSRCP spokesperson Konda Rajeev, serves students from Class 5 through Class 10 and housed 480 students at the time of the decision. Students were reportedly shifted to residential institutions in Sabbavaram, Srikrishnapuram, Devarapalli, and Parvathipuram, among other locations.

Parents and students have been protesting for days, demanding the school's continuation. They have sought a government order guaranteeing that the existing residential school will not be discontinued. The state government, however, has said it plans to upgrade the institution to a Centre of Excellence to prepare Intermediate students for national-level entrance examinations like NEET and IIT.

Party's Response

YSRCP spokesperson Konda Rajeev condemned the police action against Pushpa Sreevani, who is also a former Tribal Welfare Minister. In a statement, Rajeev said, “Using the police machinery to suppress those questioning the government has become a regular practice under the coalition government. The treatment meted out to Pushpa Sreevani is highly condemnable.”

Rajeev said the party, under the leadership of YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, stands firmly with the tribal students of Marikavalasa and will continue to fight for their educational rights. He demanded that the 20-year-old school, which serves students from Class 5 through Intermediate, be allowed to continue at its existing site. "If the government wants to establish a new Centre of Excellence, it should construct one on alternative land instead of displacing tribal students from an established institution," he said.

Meanwhile, Pushpa Sreevani alleged that police forcibly removed her from the protest site despite a peaceful demonstration. She criticised the NDA government's decision, saying it showed a lack of concern for tribal students and would adversely affect their families, as reported by The Hindu.

The controversy stems from the state government's announcement to convert the school into a Centre of Excellence offering coaching for NEET and IIT entrance examinations. The school has been operational for 20 years and serves students from Class 5 through Intermediate, according to YSRCP spokesperson Konda Rajeev. Parents and students have opposed the plan, insisting the existing residential school should continue. Around 480 students, including Class 10 pupils, were shifted to residential institutions in Sabbavaram, Srikrishnapuram, Devarapalli, Parvathipuram and other areas, according to ANI.

The YSRCP has strongly condemned the police action. Party spokesperson Konda Rajeev said, "Using the police machinery to suppress those questioning the government has become a regular practice. The treatment meted out to Pushpa Sreevani is highly condemnable." He added that the party stands firmly with the tribal students of Marikavalasa and will continue to fight for their educational rights. Rajeev demanded that the 20-year-old school, which serves students from Class 5 through Intermediate, be allowed to continue at its original site. "If the government wants to establish a Centre of Excellence, it should construct one on alternative land instead of displacing tribal students from an established institution," he said.

Pushpa Sreevani, who was among those detained, alleged that police forcibly removed her from the protest site despite the demonstration being peaceful. She criticised the decision, saying it showed a lack of concern for tribal students and would adversely affect their education and families.

The dispute centres on the government's plan to convert the existing school into a Centre of Excellence offering coaching for NEET and IIT entrance examinations. The school had 480 students, including Class 10 pupils. Students have been shifted to residential institutions in Sabbavaram, Srikrishnapuram, Devarapalli, Parvathipuram, and other locations. Marikavalasa is one of four schools slated for such conversion, according to the state government's plan.

Parents and students have been protesting for several days, demanding the school continue in its current form. They have submitted a resolution to authorities seeking revocation of the conversion order. The YSRCP has extended its support to the agitation and called on its leaders and cadres to participate in the protests.

The YSRCP has also accused the state government of failing to constitute the governing body of a corporation for nomadic communities. At a separate event, community leader Pendra Veeranna said that under former Chief Minister S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, the government had created a special corporation for 32 nomadic communities under BC-A and provided house sites and pucca houses to lakhs of families. He alleged the current government has neglected these communities.