Students, unemployed youth intensify protest against Congress Government across Telangana

HYDERABAD: Large-scale protests and rallies by unemployed youth were conducted across Telangana on Monday, demanding that the Congress Government fulfill its promises.

Gandhi Hospital in Secunderabad, where Motilal Naik, leader of the Unemployed Joint Action Committee (JAC), continued his hunger strike, was the epicentre of the protest. Police personnel were deployed in large numbers to prevent sporadic protests by students and unemployed youth visiting Naik. The police imposed a total ban on outsiders, including the media, and barricaded the entire area.

Jangaon BRS MLA Palla Rajeshwar Reddy and senior leader Rakesh Reddy, who came to Gandhi Hospital to show solidarity with Motilal Naik, were arrested by the police. They strongly condemned the police behaviour and accused them of suppressing the opposition's voice.

Police also arrested Bukka Judson, a suspended Congress leader, when he tried to visit Naik at the hospital. Judson criticized the Congress government and demanded Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's resignation if the unemployment issue remained unresolved. He called for a Telangana Bandh on Tuesday to support the unemployed and urged all unemployed individuals to participate and ensure its success.

Motilal Naik's hunger strike has gained significant support, with students at Osmania University staging a dharna in front of the Arts College. They claimed the government had not fulfilled any promises made during the assembly elections and demanded the immediate release of the job calendar.

The unemployed have presented several demands, including increasing Group-1 Mains eligibility to 1:100; creating 2,000 jobs in Group-2 and 3,000 jobs in Group-3; releasing the job calendar; and announcing a Mega DSC with 25,000 posts.

Protests by unemployed youth were also held in Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's home district of Mahabubnagar.

Hyderabad Police foiled a rally by the unemployed youth near People's Plaza, and several youths were taken into custody. The police foiled another protest near the statue of Indira Gandhi at Necklace Road. A few students were reportedly injured when students clashed with the police at Necklace Road.

Various parties, including the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), have announced their support for Naik. Leaders such as MLA Harish Rao visited Gandhi Hospital on Sunday to check Naik's health. The movement has garnered backing from students, youth leaders, and professors across the state.

Discussions between Congress leaders and Naik, who has been on a hunger strike for over a week, ended unsuccessfully. Congress MLC Balmoor Venkat visited Gandhi Hospital in Secunderabad on Sunday night and assured the release of the job calendar, emphasizing justice for students. However, tensions escalated as Osmania University students raised slogans at the hospital.

Unemployed youth protesting outside Gandhi Hospital alleged attacks by bouncers and hired goons during the incident. The BRS party strongly condemned the attacks on the unemployed youth by individuals allegedly hired by Congress leaders.