YSRCP organises ‘Praja Garjana’ against privatisation of medical colleges

Leaders of the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) on Wednesday staged protests, submitted representations to the local authorities, and mobilised people in support of party president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s “vision of accessible medical education and healthcare for the poor.” Thousands of party activists participated amid detentions and house arrest of key activists across the State.

The YSRCP said that the ‘Praja Garjana’, along with the one-crore signature campaign, demonstrated the State’s unified stand against alleged privatisation of government medical colleges, and emphasised that “healthcare is a public responsibility, not a corporate commodity.”

A protest rally was taken out in Vijayawada under the leadership of former MLA Malladi Vishnu, condemning the government’s decision to privatise medical colleges. The rally concluded with the submission of a memorandum to the Mandal Revenue Officer (MRO) demanding withdrawal of the privatisation plan.

Party leaders Devineni Avinash and Velampalli Srinivas staged protests separately.

Criticising Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, the former MLA said, “The Aarogyasri scheme has been rendered ineffective and the Aarogya Aasara support for patients has been withdrawn. It is shameful that Mr. Naidu, who had ruled the State for 14 years and is now in power again, has chosen such an anti-poor path. During Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s term, the number of medical seats increased from 2,360 to 2,550. Due to the coalition government’s decision, Andhra Pradesh stands to lose 2,500 seats.”

Former Minister Ambati Rambabu, speaking in Guntur, asserted that “the 17 medical colleges built during the YSRCP term are meant for the poor and must not be handed over to corporates.” The one-crore signatures had exposed this government’s betrayal, he said. In Machilipatnam, the protest was led by Perni Kittu.

Leading the protest in Punganur, MLA Peddireddi Ramachandra Reddy highlighted the “transformational impact” of Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s healthcare initiatives, noting the creation of 2,150 new medical seats with plans to expand further.

Senior leaders such as Botcha Satyanarayana, Y.S. Avinash Reddy, and R.K. Roja reiterated that the fight would continue until the decision was withdrawn.