YSRCP calls for "chalo medical college" protest

Former Uravakonda MLA Visweswara Reddy has criticized the Andhra Pradesh government's decision to privatize medical colleges and Aarogyasri health scheme implementation, this decision is set back to the AP medical students ." Speaking at the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) district office in Anantapuram, he announced that the party will organize a "Chalo Medical College" protest today.

Visweswara Reddy highlighted the previous YSRCP government’s "historic" decision to get approvals and begin construction on 17 new medical colleges, a move that was widely welcomed by the poor and middle-class. He expressed dismay that the current government is now opting for a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model for medical college construction, arguing it would make medical education and healthcare unaffordable for the common people, who would be forced to spend upwards of ₹1 crore for an education.

He drew a parallel to a 1991 public movement, in which he participated as the general secretary of AISF (All India Students' Federation) along with other left-wing student unions. At that time, the Telugu Desam Party also joined the protest against the establishment of private medical and dental colleges, which led to the resignation of then-Chief Minister Janardhan Reddy. Visweswara Reddy emphasized that this shows the public's strong opposition to privatization. He noted that while the 1991 government only permitted the establishment of new private colleges, the current government is "privatizing government medical colleges themselves," which he described as deeply concerning. He questioned why the state government could not spend the ₹5,000 crore needed for the construction of the medical colleges.

Visweswara Reddy urged the CM to revisit the decision of privatization if not the party will take strong decisions on agitations. He urged the government to reverse its decision immediately.