NSUI activists storm Pragati Bhavan in protest against TS decision to conduct entrance exams

Hyderabad: National Students Union of India (NSUI) activists staged a protest at Pragati Bhawan here on Wednesday against holding entrance exams and were detained by the police.

As many as 52 activists, dressed in PPE kits, stormed Pragathi Bhavan and the police present there, swung into action and took them into custody. Venkat Balmoor, president, NSUI-Telangana jumped the gate and even entered the premises of the building.

Speaking to NewsMeter minutes after being detained at the Goshamahal police station, Venkat said, "There is a petition pending in the TS High Court to take a final decision if entrance exams should be conducted or not. The next hearing is on August 17. In the meanwhile, the state government has announced that entrance exams for engineering, medical, and agricultural courses would be conducted in mid-September. This is against the ruls and will also pose a risk to the health of the students.”

Further, Venkat said that many students who want to write the exams are under home quarantine or suck up in containment zones.

"Conducting the exams in September would mean that they would lose out on a chance to appear for it," he added.

The protestors also demanded that Covid-19 testing should be ramped up in several districts like Khammam, Karimnagar and Adilabad.

"The state government is hardly able to ensure safety of the students but forcing them to write exams," Venkat said.

NSUI activists said that they wanted to raise the issue at Pragati Bhavan as a Cabinet meeting was underway at that time.