Hyderabad: BRS senior leader Shaik Abdullah Sohail on Tuesday accused the Congress government of systematically dismantling the Telangana Minorities Residential Educational Institutions Society. Sohail described TMREIS as the “proud creation of the K. Chandrashekhar Rao government.” He alleged the current administration had ruined a model institution. In fact, Sohail stated it was an institution that transformed the lives of thousands of minority students.
Sohail stated that former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao established TMREIS in 2016. He said it emerged as a national benchmark for quality education and social upliftment. “It was BRS that built this institution from scratch, ensuring dignity, free English-medium education, accommodation, and meals for more than one lakh minority students across Telangana. The Congress government is now destroying that legacy through neglect and mismanagement,” he said. The BRS leader also accused Congress leaders of taking false credit for recent student academic successes. “Those achievements are the outcome of the foundation laid by KCR’s government and the dedicated teachers recruited under BRS,” Sohail said. “The Congress is merely inheriting the results of our vision while failing to maintain even basic infrastructure.”
Sohail details neglect contributing to ruining TMREIS legacy
Sohail claimed TMREIS suffered severe setbacks since Congress took power in December 2023. For instance, he cited reports of unpaid building rents, staff shortages, and repeated food-related incidents. “Rents for a majority of schools have not been paid for months, forcing landlords to issue eviction notices,” he remarked. “In some cases, schools were locked, and students had to be sent home temporarily.” He added, “This was unheard of during the BRS tenure.”
Furthermore, he pointed out that over 2,000 staff positions remain vacant, including teachers and wardens. This, he said, compromises student safety and academic standards. “The last major recruitment drive happened under BRS.” Subsequently, “this government has not filled even a single key position.” “The burden on existing teachers has doubled, leading to poor supervision and declining quality,” he said.
The BRS leader highlighted recent tragedies. Specifically, he referred to the death of a Class 9 student at the Champapet TMREIS school. He also mentioned another in Zaheerabad earlier this year. He called these incidents a result of official negligence. “Even the National Human Rights Commission recorded hundreds of food poisoning incidents and several student deaths in Telangana’s residential schools. Yet the Chief Minister, who also holds the education portfolio, remains silent,” he stated.
Sohail also accused the government of tokenism. He said schemes like the Rs 50,000 “Indiramma Minority Mahila Yojana” and minor repair grants were no substitute for serious policy reform. “These announcements are just publicity stunts,” he said. “TMREIS needs steady funding, timely rent payments, and full staff recruitment – not empty promises.”
Therefore, he demanded the government immediately release pending funds. He also called for it to clear arrears to school landlords and resume recruitment. “The Congress has turned what was once Telangana’s pride into a national embarrassment,” Sohail warned. “TMREIS symbolised KCR’s commitment to minority empowerment. If this neglect continues, Telangana will lose one of its greatest social welfare achievements.” The BRS leader appealed to Jubilee Hills voters to punish the Congress party. He blamed them for ruining TMREIS legacy.
