Congress Trying to Grab University Lands, Alleges KTR

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) has accused the Congress government of attempting to illegally take over lands belonging to universities, targeting Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) after earlier moves involving Hyderabad Central University (HCU).

KTR met students of MANUU on Friday and discussed the ongoing land dispute. Students informed him that nearly 50 acres of land allotted to the university were under threat of illegal acquisition by the state government. They expressed serious concern that the move would affect the future expansion and functioning of the institution.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, KTR alleged that the Congress government was deliberately weakening the country’s only national-level Urdu university located in Hyderabad. He accused the government of treating valuable university land as real estate rather than safeguarding it for educational purposes. Attempting to take over land meant for an educational institution was “deeply disturbing,” he said.

KTR remarked that the Congress government had turned into a “serial land grabber,” systematically targeting university lands. He recalled earlier attempts to acquire land belonging to the Agriculture University and Hyderabad Central University. Despite HCU being a Central University, he said, the Union government remained silent during the controversy.

According to KTR, public protests, student resistance, and intervention by the Supreme Court forced the government to temporarily halt the HCU land acquisition. He alleged that the state government is now trying to target another Central University MANUU and has also set its sights on land belonging to the Indian School of Business (ISB).

KTR pointed out that the Supreme Court had earlier noted a land scam worth nearly ₹10,000 crore related to HCU lands, but no serious investigation was initiated by the Centre. Had the Union government acted firmly at that time, he said, the state government would not have dared to target MANUU now.

BRS Assurance to Students:

KTR assured MANUU students that the BRS party would stand firmly with them. He accused the Congress government of behaving like a real estate broker by attempting to seize university lands. He promised that when BRS returned to power, the government would allocate funds for the university’s expansion and development.

He said the party would support student protests and, if necessary, raise the issue in Parliament , including the Rajya Sabha , through BRS MPs. KTR added that the party was ready to fight even in Delhi to protect the university’s land.

Sharp Questions to Rahul Gandhi:

Targeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, KTR questioned his claims of being a protector of minorities. “Is this how you protect minorities by taking over land meant for a minority university?” he asked. KTR said there was a clear contradiction between Rahul Gandhi’s talk of “love and harmony” and actions that threaten the future of minority students.

University Land Already Used for Public Projects:

KTR clarified that MANUU land was not lying vacant. He said the university already had plans for future expansion. He also reminded that the university had earlier given 32 acres for the Outer Ring Road and 7 acres for a link road between Kajaguda and Nanakramguda in the larger public interest. He stressed that universities had never opposed land acquisition for genuine public needs.

KTR said both Hyderabad Central University and MANUU were established after long struggles and sacrifices during the Telangana movement. Using such institutions for real estate purposes, he said, was unacceptable. He recalled that during the BRS government’s tenure, hostels at Nizam College were constructed using government funds instead of taking over university land.

Condemnation of Lathi Charge on Unemployed Youth:

KTR also strongly condemned the recent lathi charge on unemployed youth and students who were demanding job notifications. He said it was unfair to attack students for asking about employment promises made by the Congress.

He questioned why Rahul Gandhi and Chief Minister Revanth Reddy were silent on their promise of providing two lakh jobs . Arresting and harassing unemployed youth was unjust, he said, and added that the BRS party and its student wing would continue to stand with job-seeking youth across the state.