All the private educational institutions including schools and colleges remained closed in Karimnagar town on Monday, following the bandh call given by the Opposition parties and the student union leaders in protest against the shifting of educational institutions from the government old high school premises in the town and converting it into a recreational park.
Following the bandh call, the private educational institutions voluntarily declared holiday for the students on Monday. Only the government schools in the town functioned. The Opposition parties’ leaders were arrested when they staged a dharna in front of the R&B guest house where Minister for Finance and Civil Supplies Eatala Rajender was camping.
When the Minister entered the guest house premises, TDP, CPI, CPM, YSRCP, TJS leaders and student unions’ leaders staged dharna raising slogans against the State government for closing the educational institutions and constructing recreational park in the government old high school premises. Later, the police arrested the agitators and shifted them to the Police Training College on the outskirts of the town.
At a press conference, Minister for Finance Eatala Rajender clarified that they were only developing the government old high school premises into the recreational park to provide lung space and entertainment for the locals. Reiterating that they were not demolishing the ancient school building, he said that they would protect the heritage structure and beautify it with illuminations. He also flayed the opposition parties for politicising every single issue for political mileage.
He said that the government was taking all steps for the beautification of Karimnagar town. He said that they would develop the shores of LMD reservoir with Manair river front, cable-stayed bridge across the Manair, Haritha hotel and IT towers in the town. Local legislator G Kamalakar, MLC Naradasu Laxman Rao, ZP chairperson Tula Uma and others were also present.