Governor and government at loggerheads again in Telangana, this time over medical colleges

Medical revolution in the last 8yrs:Number of med colleges doubled from around 300 to 700 approx.MBBS seats increased by 85% nearing 1 Lakhs from 30000 ,PG med seats 150% increased.15 New AIIMS & New Nursing Colleges in every New med colleges added district wise accross Nation

— Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan (மோடியின் குடும்பம் ) (@DrTamilisai4BJP) March 5, 2023

In reply, a Twitter user asked how many medical colleges had been given to Telangana.

She replied: “When every state applied for new med colleges under PMSSY scheme Telangana failed to apply in time as stated by Union Health minister @MansukhMandavia You sleep and wake up late and ask. TN got 11 medical colleges in a single Year [sic].”

When every state applied for new med colleges under PMSSY scheme Telangana failed to apply in time as stated by Union Health minister @MansukhMandavia You sleep and wake up late and ask. TN got 11 medical colleges in a single Year

— Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan (மோடியின் குடும்பம் ) (@DrTamilisai4BJP) March 5, 2023

Another user asked her for official documentation where the Central government said the state did not apply.

She replied: “Check parliament proceedings on this subject Reply by then union Health Minister JPNadda wherein he has categorically stated that Telangana failed in time when 147 new medical colleges were sanctioned under various schemes [sic].”

Check parliament proceedings on this subject Reply by then union Health Minister JPNadda wherein he has categorically stated that Telangana failed in time when 147 new medical colleges were sanctioned under various schemes

— Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan (மோடியின் குடும்பம் ) (@DrTamilisai4BJP) March 5, 2023

Also read: Telangana Governor says her phone is tapped

Harish Rao hits back

Upon this, T Harish Rao on Sunday, 5 March, said in a statement that it was a stark truth that the Central government had done serious injustice to Telangana in the matter of medical colleges.

When the Centre was asked several times to grant medical colleges to the state, it showed a stubborn attitude, not to give even a single one of the 157 medical colleges to the state, he said.

“Moreover, it is sad that every minister talks differently about medical colleges. One says that the state government did not ask, while the other says that Telangana asked for a medical college in Karimnagar and Khammam, but could not grant it because there were private medical colleges there. Who is deceiving whom? who is misleading?” asked Harish Rao.

He added that Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao started 12 medical colleges with the state’s own funds, even though the Central government did not provide a medical college, nor did it grant a single paisa by way of funds.

What's worse is Union ministers' contrasting statements on medical colleges.
One said TS didn't make any request, other said Govt wanted colleges in Khammam & Karimnagar.
By stating Centre didn't give a nod bcos private colleges are already set up, Who is misleading people? 2/5 pic.twitter.com/SBVOSHsWOL

— Harish Rao Thanneeru (@BRSHarish) March 5, 2023

Related: KCR inaugurates 8 new medical colleges in Telangana

“Steps are being taken to have a government medical college for each district. Isn’t it a fact that Telangana is the number one in the country with 19 MBBS seats per lakh of its population? If the Telangana government starts eight medical colleges in the same year and on the same day, is it reasonable for those with no heart to praise to criticise and accuse?” asked Harish Rao.

He added that a Union minister claimed that the Telangana government had not allotted land to the Bibinagar AIIMS.

Such lies and accusations are now being propagated in the case of medical colleges as well, he said.

“The Bibinagar AIIMS was supposed to be at the level of the Delhi AIIMS. Why is it worse? Even though ₹1,365 crore funds were to be sanctioned, why was only ₹156 crore (11.4 percent) sanctioned? Is it not a fact that 52 percent of the funds were given to the Gujarat AIIMS, sanctioned in 2018? Why doesn’t anyone speak about these injustices? Why don’t you tell the Centre about the interests of Telangana??” he asked.

Rao added that if the Raj Bhavan focused on putting pressure on the Centre to grant a tribal university and a railway coach factory, as promised in the AP Reorganisation Act of 2014, it would be a great boon to the people of Telangana.

Also read: KTR, Mansukh Mandaviya spar over Telangana medical colleges