Hyderabad, Aug 8 (INN): In tune with the policy of watering down of YSR policies, the State Government has punctured the fees reimbursement scheme by increasing the Engineering fees which will lead to high rate of drop-outs as the very spirit of the scheme is defeated, the YSR Congress party has said and vowed to fight it out.

“In the name of cabinet sub-committee report, the state government has hiked the fees by 19,000 which will be a burden on students belonging to weaker sections and the drop-out rate is bound to increase. We will take up an agitation to mount pressure on the State to restore the previous fees structure and carry out the fees reimbursement scheme sincerely,” YSRCLP Deputy Leader, Sobha Nagi Reddy told reporters here on Wednesday.

YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had earlier undertaken fast and dharnas on the non-implementation of fees reimbursement scheme and we will continue the fight until the State reverses its decision on the fees hike to 50,000. Though the State is assuring that loans will be provided for the additional (increased) fees, we know how effective the loan disbursement is with farmers, weavers and women queuing up but not getting the loans, she said.

The Chief Minister, Cabinet Ministers and Congress MLAs have said on many occasions that YSR schemes will not be tapered down and they should categorically give an explanation to this hike in fees. The State has gone back on YSR's promises on Aarogyasree, pensions, free power, taxes, power tariff and many other issues, she said.

She said that Leader of Opposition N Chandrababu Naidu, who is making tall claims about his commitment to BC welfare, did not give his opinion on the reimbursement scheme despite the fact that 50 per cent of the beneficiaries are BCs. “MIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi told the State assembly that minorities and other BCs were benefited from the fees reimbursement and thanked YSR for introducing the scheme besides slamming TDP for its false claims saying that students of marginalised sections were paid a paltry Rs 300,” she said.

If weaker sections get into professional courses they generate revenue which will add to the economic growth of the State and the move of State Government to hike the fees is a retrogressive step, we oppose this tooth and nail, she said.

Regarding the KG Basin gas issue, Shobha Nagi Reddy brushed aside TDP's charge that the gas diversion from KG basin to Ratnagiri Power Plant in Maharashtra was taken in 2008 when YSR was the Chief Minister. “If that is the case, why did not TDP, as constructive opposition party, raise its voice then. In fact the agreements and deals with Reliance were signed during TDP term itself,” she said.

YSR has reversed some the terms TDP and Reliance had agreed on the rights of distribution of gas. While TDP looked after the interests of the corporates, YSR has put the State's interest above commercial propositions, and was firm on the stand that the gas should be first used locally.

Reiterating that the Party Honorary President YS Vijayamma did not meet Congress President Sonia Gandhi during her Delhi trip, she said, some people were trying to send wrong signals and spread rumours. If TDP proves that Vijayamma has met Sonia Gandhi, all YSRC MLAs will quit and if they fail to do so, TDP President N Chandrababu Naidu should resign, she said. (INN)