KTR asks Rahul Gandhi to respond on Congress govt’s attempts to take MANUU land
BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao questioned Rahul Gandhi’s silence over the Telangana government’s alleged attempt to reclaim MANUU land. After meeting students, he accused the Congress regime of targeting educational institutions for real estate interests and vowed to fight the move.
Hyderabad: BRS working president KT Rama Rao questioned Congress Lok Sabha floor leader Rahul Gandhi’s silence on the State government’s attempts to take land belonging to Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) in Hyderabad. He wanted Rahul Gandhi to break his silence and explain why his party’s government was targeting the university lands repeatedly.
“Rahul Gandhi claims to be a protector of the minorities. Then why is he allowing the land of a minority university to be seized? Is this your ‘Mohabbat ki Dukaan’, Rahul ji? You must explain throwing students onto the streets and weakening an institution meant for minorities?” he demanded, stating that the lands at MANUU were not vacant, but were earmarked for future expansion, including academic blocks and hostels.
A student delegation of MANUU led by the university students union outgoing president Mateen Ashra called on the BRS working president at his Nandi Nagar residence on Friday. They briefed him about an illegal move by the State government to reclaim 50 acres previously allotted to MANUU. They expressed deep anxiety that the only Urdu university in the country and an institution central to Hyderabad’s academic identity, was being deliberately targeted for real estate objectives.
Launching a sharp attack on the Congress government after MANUU students, Rama Rao condemned the government’s attempts to encroach and commercialise university lands across Telangana, with the latest target being the Urdu university. He stated that the government was acting like a serial land grabber, systematically weakening higher education institutions for real estate interests. He questioned the Union government’s silence on the issue.
He said the attempt to reclaim MANUU land followed a familiar pattern. “First, they took 100 acres of Prof Jayashankar Telangana State Agriculture University in the name of the High Court. Then they attempted to auction 400 acres of Hyderabad Central University. Now they are after Urdu University,” he said.
The former Minister recalled that only student protests, public outrage and Supreme Court intervention stalled the alleged HCU land-grab attempt. “The Supreme Court-appointed experts committee clearly stated that a Rs 10,000-crore land scam occurred in the HCU matter. Yet, the Centre has not initiated any probe. This silence has emboldened the State government,” he added.
Calling the Revanth Reddy administration a real estate mafia in the guise of governance, Rama Rao said educational institutions were being treated as land banks. He said even premier institutions like the Indian School of Business (ISB) were now under threat of encroachment from the State government itself.
He assured students that the BRS would stand with them in their fight. Citing the previous BRS government building a hostel for Nizam College students, he promised that a future BRS government would not only protect MANUU’s land but also allocate additional funds for expansion. “If necessary, we will fight in Delhi. Our MPs will raise this issue in the Rajya Sabha,” he said.
The BRS working president reminded that MANUU had earlier parted with 32 acres for the Outer Ring Road and another seven acres for a key link road for public benefit. “HCU and MANUU were a result of the first Telangana movement. Using them for real estate deals is unforgivable,” he said.
