Mahesh Kumar Goud challenges KTR to open debate on HCU land issue

HYDERABAD: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president Mahesh Kumar Goud has issued a direct challenge to BRS working president K. T. Rama Rao for a public debate on the sale of government land during the previous administration, particularly focusing on the lands of the University of Hyderabad (HCU).

Addressing a press conference, Mahesh Kumar Goud stated that he was ready to engage in a public discussion moderated by journalists, and questioned whether KTR had the courage to participate. He said KTR should be ashamed to even speak on the HCU land issue, alleging that the previous BRS government was responsible for widespread land sales around Hyderabad.

Referring to recent remarks made by KTR and BRS leader T. Harish Rao, Mahesh Kumar Goud accused them of deliberately misrepresenting the Supreme Court’s judgement on the matter. “Do they even understand where to hide their faces after distorting a Supreme Court verdict?” he remarked.

Mahesh Kumar Goud clarified that the current Congress government has no intention of privatising lands in Kanch and Gachibowli. He reaffirmed that the Supreme Court judgement had been twisted by BRS leaders to mislead the public.

He said the HCU lands are being utilised for industrial development that is expected to generate 5,000 jobs, dismissing allegations against the Congress government as baseless attempts to derail its development agenda.

“BRS and BJP leaders have made it their mission to obstruct the Congress government’s progress,” Goud said, adding that the decade-long BRS rule saw thousands of acres of land sold off cheaply around Hyderabad. He claimed the courts had repeatedly reprimanded the BRS regime on such matters, while the Congress party has always upheld the judiciary’s authority.

Mahesh Kumar Goud also criticised Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy for sharing what he called AI-generated fake videos related to the HCU lands. He further alleged that even the Prime Minister had made misleading statements regarding these land issues.

Turning his attention back to KTR, the TPCC chief said it was shameful for KTR to demand the resignation of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. “Revanth Reddy is implementing welfare and development schemes that will be remembered in the country’s history. Asking for his resignation over such baseless allegations is a disgrace,” Mahesh Kumar Goud said.