Fri Aug 01 15:54:50 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:
**Summary:**
Former IPS officer and BRS leader R.S. Praveen Kumar accuses the Congress government of discriminating against Dalit (Scheduled Caste) students pursuing engineering degrees. He claims new government guidelines require these students to pay full tuition fees upfront, even though previous policy covered reimbursement. This, he argues, prevents many qualified Dalit students from enrolling as colleges refuse admission without full payment. He questions why this policy change exclusively targets SC students and fears it will effectively bar them from professional education.
**News Article:**
**Congress Government Accused of “Grave Injustice” to Dalit Students Over Engineering Fees**
**Hyderabad, August 1, 2025 (The Hindu)** – A major controversy is brewing over allegations that the Congress government in Telangana is discriminating against Dalit (Scheduled Caste) students seeking admission to engineering courses. Former IPS officer and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader R.S. Praveen Kumar has publicly accused the government of implementing policies that effectively prevent Dalit students from pursuing higher education.
Kumar claims that new guidelines require Dalit students to pay full tuition fees upfront, a stark departure from previous policy where the government directly reimbursed colleges for the tuition and maintenance fees of SC students. He argues that this sudden shift places an undue burden on Dalit families and effectively blocks many qualified students from enrolling in engineering programs, despite securing high ranks in the EAPCET entrance exam.
“College managements are now denying admissions to SC students who cannot immediately pay the full fee,” Kumar stated. “This is happening despite the presence of leaders like Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Assembly Speaker G. Prasad Kumar, and AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge within the government. Why are these leaders allowing such injustice to occur?”
Kumar further questioned the rationale behind the policy change, specifically asking why it exclusively targets SC students while other reserved categories continue to benefit from the established reimbursement system. He has demanded an explanation from the Congress government, asserting that the new policy will effectively deny professional education to deserving SC students who cannot afford the upfront costs.
The allegations have ignited a political firestorm, with opposition parties demanding an immediate reversal of the policy and assurances that Dalit students will not be denied educational opportunities due to financial constraints. The Congress government has yet to respond to the specific accusations made by R.S. Praveen Kumar.
First Piper 