Hyderabad (Telangana), April 2: Protests against the felling of forest land within the Hyderabad Central University (HCU) campus turned violent on Wednesday morning as police resorted to lathicharge to disperse the students. The protest was in response to the Telangana government’s decision to auction 400 acres of disputed land, which students argue is a vital part of the university’s biodiversity and academic environment.
BRS MLC Kavitha Criticizes Government’s Land Use
Amid the ongoing land dispute, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC K Kavitha condemned the Congress-led Telangana government’s actions, stating that they were disregarding environmental and academic concerns.
“If the Congress administration truly seeks land for infrastructure development, it should utilize the 397 acres previously allocated to HCU instead of targeting 400 acres adjacent to the university. Hyderabad already has ample land for development, and bulldozing HCU land only reveals Congress’s disregard for environmental preservation and academic sanctity,” Kavitha told ANI.
Legal Dispute and Allegations
Kavitha highlighted that the 25-year-long legal battle over the land ended with a court ruling in favor of the university. However, she accused the Telangana government of manipulating the outcome to claim the land as government property.
“This land, originally given by Indira Gandhi and protected by the BRS, has been the center of a prolonged legal dispute. The court has now ruled in favor of HCU, yet the Congress government is twisting the verdict to assert its ownership,” she added.
KTR Condemns Journalist Detention
BRS working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) slammed the Telangana government for detaining a journalist covering the student protests. He accused Congress of suppressing free speech and targeting those exposing the issue.
Taking a dig at Rahul Gandhi, KTR said, “Rahul Gandhi goes around preaching about democracy and free speech, yet his party is actively detaining journalists and suppressing voices in Telangana.”
Students’ Demands and Ongoing Protests
Students at HCU have demanded that the Telangana government halt the auction of the disputed land and protect the university’s green cover. They argue that the 2,500-acre campus is home to diverse flora and fauna and should not be disturbed for commercial purposes.
Despite police action, student leaders vowed to continue their protests until their demands were met.