The Hindu : ABVP opposes hike in engg. courses fee

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 11, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

ABVP opposes hike in engg. courses fee

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD Feb. 10. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has taken exception to the Government's moves to do away with free seats and hike fee for engineering courses stating that it would affect thousands of poor merit students. If the Government goes ahead with the fee hike, a State-wide agitation would be launched.

Resolutions to this effect were passed at the 22nd State convention of the ABVP held at Kavali on February 8 and 9, said K. Sudhakar, State secretary, at a press conference here on Monday. He said it was unfortunate that fee was being hiked from Rs. 8,000 to Rs. 24,000 when severe drought conditions prevailed in the State. "The Government is favouring the rich and driving away the poor and middle class students from engineering education,'' he said.

He reminded that even the Supreme Court had made it clear that merit had to be recognised and students of socially and economically backward sections have to be helped. But the Government was not bothered about them and was going ahead with its "pro-rich'' policy.

He said the convention also discussed the Government's "failure'' to tackle the growing "jehadi terrorism'' in the State. Instead of taking firm action, the Government was keeping mum "to appease'' the minorities, he said and added that even Opposition parties were supporting terrorists for the votes of minorities. Opposition parties supporting terrorists killed in encounters was an indication of this. He sought action against the MIM and the MBT parties for "openly siding'' with the terrorists killed in encounters.

Mr. Sudhakar also attacked naxalites for destroying public property and killing innocent people in the name of revolution. In the last 10 years, 788 RTC buses and 284 telephone exchanges had been burnt. How long would this go on, he questioned and wanted the Government to take stern action against naxalites.

Office-bearers elected: P. Ramaiah of Paderu in Vishakapatnam district was elected ABVP State unit president while K. Sudhakar was elected secretary for the third time at the Kavali convention. Mr. Ramaiah, a tribal, earlier worked as the vice-president.

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