Telangana BJP Chief Alleges Land Grab Bid, Detained Ahead of College Visit

Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao on Thursday accused the Congress-led state government of attempting to weaken the education system and facilitate the transfer of valuable educational institution lands to real estate interests. The allegations came after he was placed under preventive house arrest at his residence in Tarnaka, Hyderabad.

Speaking to media from his home, Mr. Rao said police stopped him from visiting the Government Polytechnic College in Ramanthapur, where he and BJP Yuva Morcha activists had planned to demonstrate against the state's GO 97. He condemned the police action as reflecting the government's “cowardice,” and asserted that arrests, imprisonment, or even invocation of the Preventive Detention (PD) Act would not deter the BJP from fighting for students' rights, including fee reimbursement and scholarships.

“The future of nearly 40 lakh students in Telangana is at stake,” Mr. Rao said. He claimed that GO 97 and the proposed “Shakti” scheme in polytechnic colleges would adversely affect technical education, lead to the scrapping of the Engineering Common Entrance Test (ECET), and discourage students from pursuing engineering courses.

Mr. Rao further alleged that the government's “real intention was to grab prime institutional lands worth thousands of crores” in Masab Tank, Ramanthapur, Mahabubnagar, and Nalgonda. He demanded the immediate withdrawal of GO 97 and dismissed committees involving K. Keshava Rao and M. Kodandaram as mere “delay tactics.”

The BJP chief also criticised both the BRS and Congress governments for what he called a decade-long weakening of the education sector, citing non-recruitment of university faculty, inadequate funding, and a reliance on block grants. He questioned the status of the ₹1,000 crore promised to Osmania University by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy a year ago and highlighted grievances of school teachers awaiting promotions, health cards, and pension benefits.

Mr. Rao urged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to visit Telangana and direct the state government to address students' grievances and implement the National Education Policy (NEP).

Meanwhile, BJP spokesperson N.V. Subhash condemned the preventive detention of party leaders and workers in Ramanthapur, Malkajgiri, and other parts of Hyderabad, questioning whether the state was witnessing democratic governance or “police rule.”

This report is based on statements made by BJP leaders. The state government has not yet issued a response to the allegations. GO 97, issued by the education department, has been a subject of political debate in Telangana, with opponents arguing it could affect institutional autonomy and land use.