Activists of the Students Federation of India (SFI) began a hunger-strike at the Dharna Chowk here on Saturday in protest against the government’s attempts to close down welfare hostels in the name of rationalisation and demanding that the mess charges be increased.
Former MLC K.S. Lakshman Rao said 272 hostels were already closed vide G.O No. 89. The government is bent on closing down hostels. The government’s claim of admitting hostel students to residential schools did not become a reality, he said. SFI State president Y. Ramu and others took part in the protest.