Harish Rao Demands Telangana Withdraw GO 97 on Polytechnic Colleges Merger

Former minister T Harish Rao has demanded that the Telangana state government immediately withdraw Government Order (GO) No 97, which mandates the merger of 59 government polytechnic colleges with the Young India Skill University.

Speaking at the Subedari police station in Hanmakonda on Thursday, while on his way to extend support to protesting students at the Warangal polytechnic college, Harish Rao opposed the merger and accused the state government of suppressing the democratic voices of students instead of addressing their genuine concerns.

Harish Rao stated that the administration was treating polytechnic students harshly as they staged peaceful protests against the proposed integration of polytechnic education into the Skill University.

He criticised Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, alleging that the government was ruthlessly cracking down on student demonstrations. He pointed out that police cases were being registered against the students alongside emerging allegations of physical mistreatment.

Questioning the government's approach, Harish Rao asked whether the protesting youth were terrorists or anti-social elements, emphasising that they were merely fighting to safeguard their academic future and demanding that polytechnic education remain separate from the Skill University.

Harish Rao further highlighted that the proposed Young India Skill University operates under a Public-Private Partnership model. He raised serious concerns that bringing 59 state-run polytechnic colleges under this structure could eventually lead to the privatisation of these educational institutions.