Merger of polytechnic colleges with YISU tantamount to privatisation: Harish Rao - The HinduPublished - August 27, 2026 09:09 pm ISTT. Harish Rao | Photo Credit: SIDDHANT THAKURHANAMKONDABRS Legislature Party deputy leader T. Harish Rao has alleged that the Congress government was trying to stifle the voice of polytechnic students protesting against its arbitrary move to merge polytechnic education with the Young India Skill University (YISU) through G.O. 97.He also accused the Congress party of adopting double standards towards Gen Z-led student movements in Telangana. Mr. Rao was speaking to a group of students of the Warangal Government Polytechnic college who met him in Hanamkonda on Thursday and apprised him of their ongoing agitation against G.O. 97.Earlier, Mr. Rao was detained by the police and shifted to the Subedari police station while he was on his way to the protest site of the polytechnic students in the city. Mr. Rao alleged that Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, who also holds the education portfolio, was jeopardising the academic careers of polytechnic students by issuing G.O. 97, which, he claimed, was detrimental to polytechnic education. He said merging government polytechnic colleges with the Skill University, established under the ‘public-private partnership (PPP)’, amounted to ‘virtually privatising’ the colleges. The decision had put the future of polytechnic students at stake, he alleged.Mr. Rao questioned why Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was not visiting Telangana when polytechnic students were agitating against G.O. 97 and other student organisations were protesting over pending fee reimbursement dues. He demanded immediate withdrawal of GO 97 and continuation of polytechnic colleges under government control to safeguard the interests and careers of students.Earlier, Mr. Rao visited the dharna camp of the JAC of Telangana employees, teachers and pensioners at the Collectorate and extended support to their agitation for fulfilment of their demands including release of six pending DAs and implementation of the Pay Revision Commission (PRC) .Published - August 27, 2026 09:09 pm ISTSign in to unlock member-only benefits!Access 10 free stories every monthSave stories to read laterAccess to comment on every storySign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single clickGet notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products${ ind + 1 } ${ device }Last active - ${ la }