Hyderabad: Congress raises pitch for protection of OU lands

Hyderabad: The Congress leaders have demanded the government to protect the lands of Osmania University and warned of serious consequences if even an inch of the land is grabbed.

They visited the university and examined the attempts to grab the lands of the university. The delegation was led by TPCC president N Uttam Kumar Reddy. The delegation included CLP leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, former PCC President V Hanumantha Rao, TPCC Working President Ponnam Prabhakar, AICC Secretaries Ch Vamshichand Reddy and A Sampath Kumar and other leaders.

The Congress leaders had a spar with the police during the visit. Speaking to media persons, Uttam Kumar Reddy demanded that the State government stop the illegal construction activities by private persons on lands belonging to Osmania University. He also demanded a high-level probe into the encroachments and stern action against all those involved in the act.

He said Osmania University was the heartbeat of people of Telangana. It was established in 1918 by the then ruler Mir Osman Ali Pasha to provide higher education of international standards to not only the people of Hyderabad State, but also the students from across the globe.

Uttam said instead of strengthening the Osmania University further, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's wrong approach has been causing huge damage to all the universities in the State.

He said KCR was apparently afraid of students and their agitations and therefore, he has sabotaged the universities in a systematic manner. He said now the TRS government has let land grabbers loose to encroach upon the land and properties of universities, especially Osmania University.

The TPCC chief expressed concern over gradual decrease in the land holdings of State universities since 2014.

Demanding an enquiry and action against the encroachments, Uttam warned of serious consequences if anyone tries to encroach upon any land belonging to the Osmania University or other university. He also condemned the role being played by the local police. He said that the police interference in civil matters was highly objectionable and illegal.

Further, he alleged that OU police was implicating the whistle blowers in false cases for pointing out encroachments on OU premises. He also condemned the silence of OU Registrar and other officials over illegal encroachments.