Kishan Reddy Demands Revocation of GO 97, Slams Arrests of Protesting Students

Union minister G. Kishan Reddy on Thursday accused the Telangana state government of running a "police-ruled administration" rather than a people's government, demanding the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of the controversial Government Order (GO) 97.

The order proposes the merger of government polytechnic colleges and Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) into the Young India Skill University (YISU). In a statement, Kishan Reddy condemned the police lathi-charge and arrests of students who have been protesting across several locations, including Indira Park, Masab Tank, and Ramanthapur in Hyderabad, as well as Wanaparthy and Parkala.

Kishan Reddy also denounced the house arrest of BJP state president N. Ramchander Rao and other party leaders who were heading to support agitating students at the Ramanthapur Government Polytechnic College. Calling the government's action an act of "cowardice" by the Revanth Reddy dispensation, he questioned why Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had remained silent on student rights being trampled in Telangana.

According to Kishan Reddy, GO 97 is part of a plan to undermine the state's technical education system and the State Board of Technical Education and Training (SBTET). Student bodies have raised concerns that the move will eliminate higher-education opportunities, including TG ECET-based lateral entry into BTech courses, reducing polytechnic studies to a mere "skill certificate" path.

Dismissing the high-level committee constituted by the state government to examine the matter as an "eyewash" and delay tactic, Kishan Reddy asserted that the BJP will continue its agitation alongside students until the order is revoked.