Union Minister gheraoed by SFI students

Khammam, Andhra Pradesh, Sep 16 (UNI) Union Minister of State for Family Welfare Renuka Choudhary was gheraoed by the activists of CPI(M)-affiliated Student Federation of India (SFI) in protest against the government's alleged move to close down the government colleges and encouraging private institutions in the state.

Ms Choudhary, who represents the Khammam constituency and was here to participate in a programme, was gheraoed by the SFI activists who demanded that the government must stop privatisation of higher eduction.

Angered with the SFI move, the minister said ''it is not a democratic way to express your protest. I invited you to come to my home for discussions on this issue''.

In another incident, the student organisations besieged the district collectorate demanding that the government provide scholarships to poor students who were pursuing higher education in government colleges and universities.

Police resorted to lathicharge on the students who entered the Collector chambers.

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