KTR accuses Telangana CM Revanth Reddy of betraying 14 lakh students
Synopsis
BRS working president KTR has accused Telangana CM Revanth Reddy of betraying 14 lakh students from marginalised communities, citing ₹10,000 crore in unpaid fee reimbursement dues and a controversial government order that reportedly forces students to pay fees upfront. With 2,500 colleges affected and BRS threatening statewide protests, the student welfare crisis is becoming a major political flashpoint in Telangana.
Key Takeaways
BRS working president K.
Rama Rao accused Telangana CM A.
Revanth Reddy of betraying nearly 14 lakh students from BC, SC, ST, and minority communities.
Government Order No.
7 (GO 7) allegedly allows colleges to collect fees from students while reimbursement approval is pending, shifting the burden onto poor families.
The state government has reportedly failed to clear ₹10,000 crore in fee reimbursement dues over the past two-and-a-half years .
More than 2,500 educational institutions are reportedly impacted, with students facing difficulty accessing certificates and continuing education.
KTR demanded the immediate withdrawal of GO 7 and a public apology from the Chief Minister to the student community.
BRS has warned of statewide protests if the government does not act to protect students' futures.
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K. T. Rama Rao (KTR) on Sunday, 4 May 2025, launched a sharp attack on Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, accusing him of betraying nearly 14 lakh students from BC, SC, ST, and minority communities by failing to clear fee reimbursement dues and issuing a government order critics say dismantles a vital welfare scheme. KTR addressed a detailed letter to the Chief Minister, alleging that grave injustice is being inflicted on the state's most economically vulnerable students.
The Controversy Over GO No. 7
At the centre of the dispute is Government Order No. 7 (GO 7), which KTR described as a "dark and deliberate attempt" to dismantle the fee reimbursement scheme. The order reportedly allows educational institutions to collect fees directly from students while reimbursement approval remains pending — effectively shifting the financial burden onto families who can least afford it.
KTR warned that the move would deprive lakhs of poor students of higher education opportunities and push their futures into uncertainty. He demanded the immediate withdrawal of GO 7 and called on Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to issue a public apology to the student community.
₹10,000 Crore in Pending Dues
KTR pointed out that the Telangana state government has failed to clear fee reimbursement dues amounting to nearly ₹10,000 crore over the past two-and-a-half years. He noted that this backlog has severely impacted more than 2,500 educational institutions, with colleges struggling to function and students facing difficulties in accessing certificates and continuing their studies.
The BRS leader further criticised the government for what he called misleading stakeholders through committees, token fund releases, and delayed assurances, rather than addressing the core issue of clearing pending dues.
Historical Context of the Scheme
KTR recalled that the fee reimbursement programme was originally introduced by former Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy and was subsequently continued and strengthened in Telangana by former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhara Rao to ensure inclusive access to higher education. He questioned the intent of the current Congress-led government in weakening such a vital welfare initiative that has historically served as a lifeline for students from marginalised communities.
KTR also expressed concern over the deteriorating condition of residential educational institutions and alleged administrative negligence in ensuring basic facilities for students housed in state-run hostels.
BRS Warns of Statewide Protests
Warning of escalating political action, KTR stated that the BRS will not remain a silent spectator if the government continues to undermine students' futures. "If the student community is forced to take to the streets, the government will be held accountable for the consequences," he cautioned.
The BRS working president reiterated the party's twin demands: the immediate release of all pending dues and the withdrawal of GO 7. With assembly elections still on the horizon and student welfare emerging as a flashpoint, the pressure on Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to respond is set to intensify.
Point of View
000 crore dues figure, if accurate, represents a serious governance failure by the Congress government, but it also conveniently papers over the BRS's own record of accumulating those arrears during its decade in power. The real accountability question cuts both ways: who allowed the backlog to reach ₹10,000 crore in the first place? GO 7, meanwhile, is the kind of administrative order that can quietly devastate marginalised communities while generating little mainstream coverage — KTR is right to flag it, even if the timing is transparently electoral.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is GO No. 7 and why is it controversial in Telangana?
Government Order No. 7 (GO 7) reportedly allows educational institutions in Telangana to collect fees directly from students while reimbursement approval from the state government remains pending. Critics, including BRS's KTR, argue this effectively forces poor students from BC, SC, ST, and minority communities to bear fees they cannot afford, undermining the purpose of the fee reimbursement scheme.
How much does the Telangana government owe in fee reimbursement dues?
According to BRS working president KTR, the Telangana state government has failed to clear fee reimbursement dues of nearly ₹10,000 crore over the past two-and-a-half years. He says this has severely affected more than 2,500 educational institutions across the state.
Who introduced the fee reimbursement scheme in Telangana?
The fee reimbursement programme was originally introduced by former Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy and was subsequently continued and strengthened in Telangana by former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhara Rao. KTR has accused the current Congress government of dismantling this welfare initiative.
What action has BRS threatened over the fee reimbursement issue?
BRS working president KTR has warned of statewide protests if the Telangana government does not immediately withdraw GO 7 and release all pending fee reimbursement dues. He cautioned that if students are forced to take to the streets, the government will be held accountable for the consequences.
Who are the students affected by the fee reimbursement crisis in Telangana?
According to KTR, nearly 14 lakh students from Backward Classes (BC), Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and minority communities are affected. These are students from economically weaker sections who depend on the fee reimbursement scheme to access higher education.
