Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a visit to Andhra Pradesh, was met by YSR Congress Party (YCP) leaders with a strong representation against the state government’s move to privatize several medical colleges.
The YCP leaders highlighted that the process of handing over 10 out of the 17 medical colleges; established during the previous YCP regime; to private entities under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model has triggered widespread public opposition.
Citizens fear that this move will restrict access to free healthcare and make medical education unaffordable for the poor.
At Orvakal Airport in the undivided Kurnool district, YCP MLA Virupakshi, MLC Madhusudhan, and Kurnool ZP Chairman Errabothula Papireddy met Prime Minister Modi and submitted a formal petition.
In their representation, the YCP leaders urged the Prime Minister to stop the privatization of medical colleges in Andhra Pradesh, include the Valmiki community in the ST list, and sanction the construction of the Nandyal–Kalwakurthi bridge-cum-barrage.
The YCP has already been leading a strong agitation across the state against the privatization policy. Raising this issue directly with the Prime Minister during his visit underscores the seriousness of the matter.
It’s also worth noting that the BJP is part of the ruling coalition in Andhra Pradesh, and the state’s Health Minister Satyakumar Yadav, a BJP MLA, has publicly supported the PPP model.
He has also been among those criticizing the YCP for not completing the construction of medical colleges during its tenure.
