The University of Hyderabad Students’ Union (UoHSU) announced an indefinite protest and boycott of classes starting Tuesday, April 1, demanding the removal of police officials and earth-moving machinery from the campus.
The student union Vice President Akash has called upon students and faculty to participate in the campus protest and suspend academic activities.
Why are the students protesting?
The student’s protest was in response to the reported auction of land in the area for the Telangana government to set up an IT park there. The 400-acre land parcel at Kancha Gachibowli borders the University of Hyderabad. A section of university students and others oppose the proposal to auction the land, citing environmental concerns.
Are the students being misled?
The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) has issued a statement defending the government’s legal claim over the land. The statement, claiming that the students are being misled, clarified that the state had successfully resolved a prolonged legal dispute, with the Supreme Court ruling in its favour in May 2024, granting full possession of the land.
The state government on Tuesday strongly refuted allegations that it has encroached upon land belonging to the University of Hyderabad. “The 400 acres in Survey No. 25 of Kancha Gachibowli belong to the government,” two state ministers said, adding that the government had secured the land after winning a legal battle against a private firm.
The history of the land dates to 2004, when it was allocated to IMG Academies Bharat Private Limited for a sports infrastructure project. However, the government cancelled the allotment in 2006 due to the company’s failure to begin the project.
The land was then reassigned to the AP Youth Advancement, Tourism, and Cultural Department, which led to a legal battle. IMG Academies challenged the decision in the High Court in 2006, and on March 7, 2024, the court ruled in favour of the government. The Supreme Court upheld this decision on May 3, 2024.
After clearing legal obstacles, the Telangana Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TGIIC) proposed using the land for IT and infrastructure development. By June 24, 2024, the rights were transferred to TGIIC, and on July 1, 2024, the formal handover was done. A survey later confirmed that the University of Hyderabad did not occupy any part of the disputed land, the statement read.
BJP leader to visit site
A BJP legislative delegation, headed by floor leader Alleti Maheshwar Reddy, plans to visit the location on Tuesday. The BJP leader told news agency PTI that police restricted him to his residence without providing any formal notification explaining the restrictions. Similarly, other BJP legislators and officials faced police restrictions at their homes.
KTR questions Rahul Gandhi
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President K Taraka Rama Rao (KTR) has accused Rahul Gandhi and the Congress government in Telangana of hypocrisy, in a post on X. The former IT minister pointed out Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and said, “You visited HCU twice in the past, stood with students, and championed environmental causes elsewhere. Why are you silent now when your own party’s government is cracking down on students and wrecking Hyderabad’s ecosystem?”
Police detained 50 students
Following Sunday's protest against police, authorities detained over 50 students, who were subsequently released. Police reported that when the development work began on March 30, university students and others attempted to forcibly halt operations. Two individuals were arrested in connection with this incident.
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