Praveen Kumar alleges discrimination of students in gurukuls

BRS leader and former IPS officer R.S. Praveen Kumar speaking to the media in Hyderabad on Saturday. | Photo Credit: By Arrangement

HYDERABAD

BRS leader and former IPS officer R.S. Praveen Kumar has accused the Congress Government of discriminating Dalit (Scheduled Caste) students of social welfare residential schools, and alleged that with the government support, IAS officer in-charge of those institutions Alugu Varshini had made disparaging remarks that there was nothing wrong if students cleaned their toilets.

Speaking to newspersons, along with a few parents whose wards are studying in the gurukuls, on Saturday, he recollected Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s comments that he was the “pedda madiga and pedda mala” in the State (first Mala and Madiga, the sub-castes of SCs), Mr. Praveen Kumar, who functioned as the Secretary of residential educational institutions when in service, sought to know if Mr. Reddy was cleaning toilets in his home or his Cabinet colleagues were doing the same.

The officer reportedly said there was nothing wrong if students cleaned their toilets. If that is the government’s policy, a GO should be issued, he said. He criticised the government for posting an officer who was reluctant to talk to the parents as the in-charge of gurukuls. He alleged that the Inter second-year students of Gowlidoddi residential school were being told to pursue education outside, and the government had also closed the Sainik School for girls.

He also sought to know why the Chief Minister had not announced a cash reward to Agasara Nandini for winning a medal in the Asian Athletic Championships.

Published - May 31, 2025 09:25 pm IST