Hyderabad, 31 July
CM’s ‘Criminal Waste’ Remark on Engineering Students Sparks Political Row
CM’s ‘Criminal Waste’ Remark on Engineering Students has triggered a political controversy in Telangana, with Opposition parties accusing Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy of insulting engineering graduates. While the CM later clarified that his criticism was directed at the education system rather than students, the remarks have drawn sharp reactions from the BRS and BJP.
The comments were made during a Teacher International Exposure Visit Programme held in Hyderabad on Thursday, July 30, where teachers who studied education models in Finland and Germany were felicitated.
Revanth Reddy Questions Job Readiness of Engineering Graduates
The CM’s ‘Criminal Waste’ Remark on Engineering Students came while Revanth Reddy was discussing employability and skill development among engineering graduates in Telangana.
The Chief Minister said that nearly 1.1 lakh engineering students graduate every year, but many struggle with basic job-readiness skills.
He remarked that if engineering graduates are asked to write a simple job application on plain paper, some would fail to do so, adding that they often hesitate to apply for smaller jobs because they hold engineering degrees but lack practical skills.
CM Clarifies His Statement
Following criticism, Revanth Reddy clarified that his comments were not aimed at students, but at the education system.
According to the Chief Minister, the present education system has failed to equip many engineering graduates with practical knowledge and industry-ready skills required for employment.
He stressed that the intention behind his remarks was to highlight the need for education reforms and better skill development.
KTR Slams Chief Minister
The CM’s ‘Criminal Waste’ Remark on Engineering Students drew an immediate response from Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President K.T. Rama Rao (KTR).
KTR described Revanth Reddy as a “cheap minister” and questioned his qualifications to comment on engineering graduates. He also criticized the Chief Minister over his professional background and accused him of insulting Telangana’s youth.
Harish Rao Demands Apology
Former Telangana Minister T. Harish Rao called the Chief Minister’s statement “extremely unfortunate.”
He demanded that Revanth Reddy withdraw the remarks and issue a public apology to engineering students, stating that the comments had hurt the sentiments of thousands of young graduates.
BJP Criticises Congress Government
The CM’s ‘Criminal Waste’ Remark on Engineering Students also sparked criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Telangana BJP spokesperson N.V. Subhash questioned why several self-described Gen Z activists had remained silent on the controversy. He alleged that their silence reflected political bias.
In a statement, he said Telangana’s youth deserve employment opportunities, timely fee reimbursement, and respect instead of criticism from the government.
The Telangana BJP also posted on social media that while the Congress had earlier promised greater youth participation in politics, the latest remarks reflected a different attitude towards young people.
Kishan Reddy Targets Both Congress and BRS
Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy criticised both the Congress and the BRS, accusing them of maintaining an anti-youth mindset.
He said successive governments in Telangana have failed to encourage students and instead continued a culture of undermining their aspirations.
Congress Defends the Chief Minister
Congress MP Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy defended Revanth Reddy’s statement, saying it had been taken out of context.
He argued that the Chief Minister was highlighting shortcomings in the state’s education system rather than insulting engineering students.
The Congress leader also criticised KTR’s remarks and stated that leadership should be judged by ability and vision rather than academic qualifications alone.
Political Debate Continues
The CM’s ‘Criminal Waste’ Remark on Engineering Students has now become a major political issue in Telangana, with the ruling Congress maintaining that the Chief Minister’s comments were aimed at improving education standards, while Opposition parties continue to accuse him of disrespecting students.
The controversy has reignited debate over employability, skill development, and the quality of higher education in Telangana, with political leaders using the issue to target one another ahead of future political battles.