YSRCP slams politicisation of universities

Tadepalli, Jan 24: YSRCP Student Wing State Working President Ravichandra strongly condemned the coalition government for turning universities into political platforms and accused Education Minister Nara Lokesh of destroying the autonomy and academic atmosphere of higher education institutions.

Speaking to the media at the YSRCP central office in Tadepalli, he objected to the organisation of Minister Lokesh’s birthday celebrations inside Nagarjuna University, where TDP cadres mobilised large convoys, blared horns, cut cakes across departments and created an atmosphere of fear among students. He said it was unacceptable that professors and non-teaching staff participated in political celebrations on campuses and that students were even taken to TDP offices to conduct blood donation programmes.

Ravichandra said higher education has been paralysed under coalition rule, pointing to hunger protests by students at Andhra University as clear evidence of government neglect. He noted that immediately after coming to power, the government removed vice-chancellors but has failed to fill the posts even after 19 months, leaving universities such as Dravidian University, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Sri Krishnadevaraya University and Andhra Kesari University without full leadership.

He further stated that not a single governing council meeting has been held in any university, crippling financial and administrative functioning and reducing the Higher Education Council to a rubber stamp, while political control is exercised directly by the Education Department. He said campuses have been reduced to venues for birthday celebrations and promotions instead of centres of learning, with no recruitments, no campus placements and no academic revival.

Holding Minister Lokesh directly responsible, Ravichandra demanded his immediate resignation, payment of pending fee reimbursement dues and fulfilment of the promise of providing 20 lakh jobs. He warned that if the government does not reverse its policies, the YSRCP Student Wing will launch a statewide agitation.