Hyderabad, August 2026 : Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao on Monday launched a 48-hour hunger strike in Hyderabad, demanding that the Congress-led state government immediately clear pending fee reimbursement dues and address what he described as a growing crisis in the education sector.
Ramchander Rao alleged that nearly Rs 15,000 crore in fee reimbursement payments remain pending, affecting around 40 lakh students across Telangana. He claimed that the delay has disrupted the education and career plans of thousands of students, with several educational institutions allegedly withholding certificates because of unpaid reimbursement amounts.
Addressing the protest, the BJP leader accused the Congress government of failing to fulfil promises made to students and young people. He said delays in clearing reimbursement dues had created uncertainty over higher education, employment opportunities and the future of a large section of Telangana's youth.
“This government has miserably failed to implement every major promise made to students and youth. Due to the Congress government's negligence and irresponsibility, Telangana's education system has plunged into a severe crisis,” Ramchander Rao said.
He further alleged that the government's failure would eventually result in growing resentment among students and young voters. The BJP state president claimed that the youth of Telangana had begun raising their voice against the Congress government and warned that the issue could have political consequences.
Ramchander Rao also challenged Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi to visit Telangana and intervene in the matter.
“If Rahul Gandhi truly cares about students' futures, he should come to Telangana and get the pending fee reimbursement dues released through his Congress government,” he said.
The BJP leader asserted that his party would continue its agitation until the state government released the pending amount and ensured that students received their certificates and other necessary documents. He said the BJP would continue to fight for what it described as the legitimate rights of students.
However, the state government strongly rejected the allegations. Telangana Transport and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar accused Ramchander Rao of using the fee reimbursement issue for political purposes.
“If you have the guts, bring the funds from Delhi. If you truly have pure intentions, go to Delhi and bring the funds that the Central government owes to Telangana,” Prabhakar said.
The minister claimed that the Congress government was working to clear outstanding dues inherited from the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government.
Prabhakar also said the government had introduced measures to make fee reimbursement more efficient from the current academic year. According to him, advance fee reimbursement would be provided through banks to students belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Classes and minority communities.
He added that welfare hostels were also being provided funds through a green-channel mechanism to ensure timely financial support.
The minister further questioned the BJP over the implementation of fee reimbursement schemes in states governed by the party.
The dispute has now intensified into a political confrontation, with the BJP demanding immediate clearance of the dues and the Congress government defending its handling of the issue while accusing the opposition of politicising student welfare.
