*Withdraw GO 69, continue Marikavalasa school: YSRCP*

Visakhapatnam, September 2: YSRCP demanded the immediate withdrawal of GO 69 and its related memo and asked the coalition government to continue the Tribal Welfare Residential School at Marikavalasa without disturbing the students.
Speaking to the media at the YSRCP office here, MLC Kumbha Ravibabu, former Minister P. Balaraju, former Paderu MLA K. Bhagyalakshmi and former GCC Chairperson Sobha Swathi Rani said nearly 480 students were forcibly shifted in the middle of the academic year. They demanded that all the students be brought back and classes resumed at Marikavalasa.
They said the party was not opposed to setting up a Centre of Excellence, but questioned the need to close an established school for it. The new institution could be accommodated in vacant or rented buildings until a separate campus was developed, they said.
The leaders said 422 parents had unanimously sought continuation of the school at Marikavalasa. They alleged that students were shifted in buses at midnight without properly informing their parents and questioned how quality education could be provided by accommodating around 1,000 students in a campus designed for about 480.

They also criticised the detention and arrests of former Ministers, elected representatives, parents and leaders supporting the protest. They alleged police high-handedness, including against former Deputy Chief Minister Pushpa Srivani.
The leaders demanded written orders withdrawing GO 69 instead of verbal assurances. They said the government would be responsible for the safety and well-being of the displaced students.
“Withdraw GO 69, bring back the students and continue the Marikavalasa school. Until then, our struggle will continue,” they said.