Botsa's statement on Vara Laxmi's death lacks substance: Jagan

Former Kadapa MP Ys Jaganmohan Reddy on Saturday condemned Transport Minister Botsa Satyanarayana’s statement that the death of G Vara Laxmi, a first year B Tech student of Vignana Engineering College in Nalgonda district was due to an accident.

Talking to media persons after consoling the Vara Laxmi’s parents at their residence in Qutubullahpur mandal in Ranga Reddy district, the Kadapa leader said that the Minister has made a statement which lacked substance over the cause of Vara Laxmi’s death. He said that Mr Satyanarayana had done this to divert the attention of the people from the failure of the government to release the fee reimbursement arrears.

Mr Jaganmohan Reddy said that he believed the statement made by the girl’s parents that Vara Laxmi had resorted to immolating herself as she was afraid of being unable to continue her education. He said that Varalaxmi died as the government failed to release arrears of fee reimbursement and due to harassment of college management to pay fee for attempting examinations.

The former MP said that the onus was on the government to prevent any future recurrence of such incidents by taking suitable steps.

He appealed to government not play with students’ lives and take necessary steps to release fee reimbursement arrears immediately.

Mr Jaganmohan Reddy also warned that students would be forced to launch an agitation if the government fails to release the arrears and pointed out that the college managements have already set a deadline of February 15 to release the arrears.