TDP wants govt to reimburse fee

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leaders on Monday staged a protest at the Secretariat demanding reimbursement of fee for SC, ST, BC, EBC and minority students.

Following this, the police arrested the protesting leaders and shifted them to Nampally police station. The arrest led to an argument between the police and the TDP leaders.

Later, TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu visited the police station. He said the arrests were illlegal and sat on a dharna .

Ministers P Subhash Chandra Bose and Botsa Satyanarayana said the government was committed to reimburse the tuition fees despite financial difficulties. The government would take a hit of about ' 3,792 crore.

The ministers said the government would set up a toll free helpline for the students to complain against the college managements if they harass them in this regard.

This year, 3.12 million students were eligible for fee reimbursement. The pending dues of ' 389.2 crore would be released in two weeks. The ministers said the government had already moved Supreme Court against the High Court direction for payment of fees at the beginning of the academic year.