R Sridhar, an intermediate student at the RK Junior College at Musheerabad, was one among several students who participated in the sit-in programme undertaken by YSRC honorary president YS Vijaya Lakshmi at Dharna Chowk at Indira Park in Hyderabad on Thursday, demanding reimbursement of the total fee amount for backward classes (BCs).
Interestingly, Sridhar like several of his classmates who partook in the ‘Fee Deeksha’ is neither aware of the ongoing controversy over the implementation of fee reimbursement scheme nor has knowledge of the eligibility for availing the scheme. They said they attended the Deeksha because they were asked to participate in it by their college managements.
“I have no idea of the fee scheme, but what I want is to see Jagan Mohan Reddy as our chief minister,” Sridhar told Express, adding that Jagan is young and can bring welfare for the downtrodden classes. However, it were not the students of professional colleges for whose sake Vijayamma claimed to take the sit-in programme but junior colleges’ students who could be seen camping along with her. Several of them were brought to the venue by private buses by the local YSRC leaders.
The students were brought by aspiring YSRC leaders who lay their claim over the party’s tickets for the 2014 elections. Late Congress leader P Janardhan Reddy’s daughter, Vijaya Reddy, who is aspiring to be the YSRC candidate for Khairatabad Assembly segment, is one such leader.
YSRC Serilingampally incharge Mukka Rupananda Reddy, aspirant for Secunderabad ticket, and YSRCP youth wing president Putha Prathap Reddy were among others who prevailed upon the managements of junior colleges to send their students to the demonstration.
A number of buses have lined up Dharna Chowk. But, Majority of the student at the venue are diehard fans of YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.