HYDERABAD: Students protests at Chaitanya Bharati Institute of Technology (CBIT) gained momentum on day two when students of both I and II year joined to agitate against proposed fee hike. More than 2,000 students and 60 ABVP activists took out a rally from Gandipet X Roads to CBIT campus where they staged dharna till evening.No vehicles including the college buses that generally leave the premises by 4:30, were allowed to leave until 6 pm. “Today I year students boycotted their exams and joined the protest with II year students. Only after the principal came and met us, we called off the protest for the day. We will continue it until the management rolls back its decision to jack up the fees,” said Vemula Avinash, a II year student.
ABVP activists who also lent support to them said management has asked for two days to meet and discuss the issue. “There is no way students should accept this. Though the court order came months ago, they waited until examination time to force students to sign the undertaking or forgo the exam. Criminal cases should be booked against management for blackmailing students,” said J Dileep, city secretary, ABVP. He added that since colleges had at the commencement of the session agreed to the fee structure proposed by Telangana Admission and Fee Regulatory Committee (TAFRC), those that are sidelining it by approaching the court, should be barred from counselling the next year.
Telangana Parents Association members submitted a representation to chairman, TAFRC on seeking action against CBIT. Deputy CM, K Srihari on Thursday said government will stand in support of students in the case of those colleges who are charging higher fees than that which has been recommended by TAFRC. He was speaking at JNTU during KGBV School Leaders Conference.