Several students from the University of Hyderabad were detained by police on Sunday while protesting against the Telangana government’s decision to auction a 400-acre land parcel in Kancha Gachibowli. The land, bordering the university, has been earmarked for multi-infrastructure projects, including IT parks, as part of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s development agenda.

The Congress-led Telangana government plans to auction the land to attract investment and boost the IT sector. However, the move has drawn opposition from students and local residents concerned about its environmental impact.

The protest erupted after students spotted bulldozers clearing the site. Some climbed onto the machines, chanting slogans against the police and demanding a halt to the operation. The situation escalated, leading to the detention of 13 students, including the general secretary of the University of Hyderabad Students’ Union (UoHSU).

Defending the project, Revanth Reddy stated that the development would stimulate economic growth and generate employment opportunities. Addressing the Telangana Assembly, he accused certain groups of provoking students and filing indirect public interest litigations (PILs) to obstruct the land auction.

The disputed land lies within Hyderabad’s Financial District, a key IT hub. While the state government maintains that the project will enhance infrastructure and attract businesses, the opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has criticized the Congress for its handling of the issue.

The BRS accused the ruling party of hypocrisy, referencing Rahul Gandhi’s “Mohabbat ki Dukaan” slogan and claiming the government was betraying principles of transparency and fairness. “Congress’s ‘Mohabbat ki Dukaan’ has now reached Hyderabad Central University,” the party posted on ‘X’, condemning the police action against students and journalists.

“Rahul Gandhi preaches with a copy of the Constitution in hand, but his government does the exact opposite,” the BRS alleged, calling the Congress administration a “market of deception” rather than a “shop of love.”

The incident has intensified political debate in Telangana, with opposition parties and student groups continuing to voice their concerns.