Minister for Transport Botcha Satyanarayana has refuted reports appeared in a section of the press that the government is planning to restrict payment of tuition fee and scholarships up to graduation only.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, Mr. Satyanarayana said that the report was misleading and aimed at causing unrest among students and their parents. It was published with a political motive. The Minister said that the scheme would continue as long as the Congress was in power in the State because late YSR had taken the decision prior to elections in consultation with AICC president Sonia Gandhi. Asserting that there would not be any change in its policy, Mr. Satyanarayana said that the government was only trying to plug leaks in the scheme and asked journalists “is it correct to extend scholarships and tuition fee to those who have already completed their course, got employment and again joined a new course for acquiring additional qualification?”
To be modified
The scheme was introduced for the benefit of poor students. Hence, it was being modified. He appealed to journalists to get a clarification from the ministry concerned before publishing such reports.
On the reported statement of State CPI secretary K. Narayana comparing Ministers with animals, Mr. Satyanarayana asked him to correct his language as he himself would be denigrating his image in public. DCC president incharge K. Veerabhadra Swamy and others were present.
