Hyderabad: Former minister T. Harish Rao said chief minister A Revanth Reddy failed as education minister, alleging that the govt schools lacked even basic amenities. Responding on CM’s remarks, why should he resign as education minister in a meeting on Thursday, Harish Rao saidThe deputy floor of BRS claimed that schools had not received grants months after the academic year began, leaving institutions without funds even to buy chalk pieces. He also alleged that sanitation workers had not been paid salaries for seven months, school uniforms had not been distributed, and the flagship “Mana Ooru Mana Badi” programme had been neglected.He further alleged that despite increased costs under the mid-day meal programme, schools were struggling to provide nutritious food to students. He also criticised the govt for leaving several Mandal Education Officer (MEO) and District Education Officer (DEO) posts vacant, failing to implement the promised breakfast scheme, delaying fee reimbursement for students, and not delivering on its promise of a Mega DSC recruitment drive.“With so many failures in the education department, the CM has no moral authority to continue as education minister and insult students or teachers,” he said.Harish Rao also criticised CM Revanth Reddy for allegedly referring to engineering students as “criminal waste.” He described the remark as deeply insulting to students and teachers.“Engineering graduates from Telangana are excelling across the world and bringing recognition to the state. Insulting them amounts to insulting every teacher who educated them,” he said.He demanded that the CM immediately withdraw the remark and issue an unconditional apology to engineering students and the teaching community.Extends full support to CPS for employees:He extended full support to the ongoing agitation by Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) employees demanding the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). Addressing the Jana Chaitanya Yatra organised by CPS employees at the Degree college grounds in Siddipet on Thursday, Harish Rao accused the Congress govt of betraying employees by abandoning its election promises and failing to implement key commitments made in its manifesto.Harish Rao said he chose to attend the protest personally after CPS leaders invited him to receive their representation, stating that supporting the employees’ struggle was more important than asking them to come to his office. He congratulated the state and district leaders of the CPS Employees Association and appreciated employees for continuing their agitation despite adverse weather conditions.He said the demand for the restoration of OPS was neither unreasonable nor new, recalling that Congress leaders had personally promised employees before the assembly elections that the Old Pension Scheme would be restored immediately after coming to power.“Thirty-two months have passed since this government assumed office, yet there is no sign of OPS, PRC, pending Dearness Allowances or a strengthened Employees Health Scheme. The Congress manifesto has been completely abandoned,” he alleged.Harish Rao questioned what had happened to the Congress promises of implementing a Pay Revision Commission within six months, clearing all pending DAs and introducing an improved Employees Health Scheme.He warned that govts that antagonise employees ultimately face political consequences, saying employees who work day and night for the state’s development and public welfare should not be treated with neglect.Harish Rao assured employees that the BRS would strongly raise the issue during the forthcoming assembly session.“We will question the govt on OPS and other employee issues. If necessary, we are prepared to stall the Assembly until justice is done to employees,” he said.Accusing the govt of suppressing dissent, Harish Rao alleged that employees raising legitimate concerns were being targeted through vigilance inquiries, ACB and CID cases.He appealed to govt employees’ not to be intimidated and assured them that the BRS would stand firmly by them against what he described as political harassment.Harish Rao also alleged that the govt had failed to deposit employees’ pension contributions for nearly eight months and acted only after the BRS repeatedly raised the issue in the assembly.Ends/
