VIJAYAWADA: Leaders of various student unions like SFI, AISF, PDSU and YSRC launched a relay hunger strike at Dharna Chowk here on Wednesday demanding the State government conduct an inquiry into the student suicides by a High Court sitting judge.
MLC Boddu Nageswara Rao and former MLC K S Laxman Rao extended their support to the relay hunger strike.
Addressing the gathering at the dharna camp, Nageswara Rao alleged that the State government has turned a blind eye and failed to initiate stern action against the corporate colleges in which around 60 students in the State committed suicide since 2014.
At least now, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu should expel Minister P Narayana from his cabinet as a number of student suicides have been reported from Narayana and Chaitanya Educational Institutions, he demanded.
Former MLC KS Laxman Rao came down heavily on the State government for its inefficiency in implementing the recommendations of Dr Neeraja Reddy and Chakrapani Committee at junior colleges across the State. With the inordinate delay of the government, the State has become a hub for ‘student suicides’. “Some of the committee recommendations including holiday on Sunday, college timings from 9 am to 5 pm, etc will bring down the burden on the students in corporate colleges,” he said. He also warned that a series of agitations will be staged across the State if the government fails to initiate action against the Narayana and Chaitanya Educational Institutions.
Later in the evening, CPI State secretary K Ramakrishna served lemon water and appealed them to withdraw the relay hunger strike. SFI State secretary S Noor Mohammad, PDSU State president M Ramakrishna, CPM State leader Ch Babu Rao and others were also present.