Medical Colleges Row: Jagan Flags off Vehicles Carrying 1 Crore Signature Petitions

Vijayawada: YSRC president and former chief minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Thursday led vehicles carrying documents with more than one crore signatures opposing the privatisation of government medical colleges on Thursday.

The convoy that started from YSRC central office in Vijayawada, came to a halt at the Lok Bhavan, the office of AP Governor S. Abdul Aziz, where officials verified the documents containing the signatures.

Those in the convoy included YSRC legislators, district presidents, regional coordinators and senior leaders.

Before meeting the Governor, the YSRC chief paid tributes at the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Social Justice Memorial, stating that submission of 1 crore signatures against the privatisation of medical colleges is anchored in constitutional values, social justice and people’s right to health.

Jagan Mohan Reddy then met the Governor and formally submitted the one crore signatures. He informed Abdul Aziz that the peaceful, state-wide exercise reflected overwhelming public opposition to Chandrababu Naidu government’s move to privatise government medical colleges. “The signatures represent the collective will of the people to safeguard public healthcare and affordable medical education,” the former CM underlined.

Addressing media later, he said poor and middle-class families benefit only when hospitals remain in the government sector, warning that privatisation would lead to high charges and exploitation. He informed the Governor that the decision will disproportionately harm the poor and weaker sections.

The YSRC chief alleged that the privatisation proposal is “far bigger than it appears,” as the government has committed nearly ₹120 crore over two years towards payment of salaries to staff of the private medical colleges. “This is using public funds to subsidise private profit,” he pointed out.

Jagan Mohan Reddy said YSRC will approach courts and continue its protests until the decision to roll back privatisation is taken in the interest of public.