Congress firefights as campaign to ‘save’ land near Hyderabad University intensifies

With the land auction issue in Telangana drawing national attention, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) has stepped into handle the matter and guide the state Congress to safety. On Saturday, AICC Telangana in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan made an unscheduled visit to Hyderabad. It is learnt that her original plan was to visit the state in the third week of April, but the ongoing developments surrounding the 400-acre land in Kancha Gachibowli have pushed the high command to act sooner. She is said to have been deputed to manage the issue effectively and contain the growing negative campaign around the party and the government.

 

It may be recalled that the Congress government in Telangana had decided to auction a 400-acre land parcel located near the University of Hyderabad. The land, once part of the university, now sits alongside a green zone surrounding the campus. Students of the university took to protest and what began as a spontaneous agitation quickly snowballed with civil society groups, environmental activists, citizens and even celebrities voicing their opposition. Cases were also booked against some students. 

 

The government—which is insisting that it is the rightful owner of the land—sent bulldozers at midnight to clear the area, chopping down trees in the process. This led to an instant backlash which was noticed online and also on the ground. The opposition parties, BJP and the BRS, also joined the fray and accused the government of destroying a sensitive ecological zone. According to experts, the university and its surrounding areas are home to threatened and endangered species of animals, thick vegetation, rock formations and caves. Both the High Court and Supreme Court have also heard the case related to the issue and ordered a halt to all development work at the site.

 

While the government has since formed a committee with three senior ministers, the controversy shows no signs of slowing down. Against this backdrop, the AICC has now decided to take a more active role. Meenakshi Natarajan is expected to meet with ministers Sridhar Babu, Bhatti Vikramarka and Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy—members of the committee tasked with resolving the issue. She is also likely to engage with NSUI members, University of Hyderabad students, activists and intellectuals leading the campaign. The matter has now reached Delhi with BJP supporters putting up posters in the capital calling on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to intervene and protect the land. The issue was also raised in Parliament this week.

India