HYDRAA says Owaisi's Fatima College built on lake bed, BJP demands demolition

Hyderabad: The Fatima Owaisi Educational Campus, operated by the family of AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi, found itself at the centre of a political storm in Telangana, with the BJP demanding its demolition.

During an X Spaces audio live session on Sunday, Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) Commissioner AV Ranganath addressed questions about parks, land disputes, lake beds, and encroachments across Hyderabad. In his remarks, he disclosed that preliminary investigations indicate the Fatima Owaisi Educational Campus falls within the full tank level (FTL) of Salkam Cheruvu in Chandrayangutta. The agency is now awaiting final notification regarding the campus's potential demolition.

Despite the legal concerns, Commissioner Ranganath acknowledged the institution's significant contributions to education. He noted that the college has provided education to more than 10,000 Muslim students across all levels, from kindergarten to postgraduate programs, with many children receiving free education. This positive impact, he explained, is why HYDRAA continues to await the final notification before proceeding with any demolition action. HYDRAA has been in the news ever since it was constituted by the Revanth Reddy government for its demolitions of many illegal structures including those belonging to many celebrities.

However, newly appointed state BJP president N Ramchander Rao has criticized the Congress government, accusing it of showing undue favoritism toward the Owaisi-run institution. The Fatima Owaisi Educational Campus, operated by the Salar-E-Millat Educational Trust, currently offers education from nursery through intermediate levels.

"The Congress government is saying that it's true that Akbaruddin Owaisi's college was built on the land of Pathabasti Salkam Cheruvu, and since 10,000 students are studying there, they cannot destroy their lives. I am asking in the Musi catchment area, within the limits of Hyderabad and Rangareddy districts, why are you demolishing the houses of thousands of poor people and middle-class families who unknowingly invested their money to buy land in tank bund areas and built homes? Are they not human beings? Are those not lives? Don't they have families? Why are you demolishing such people's houses? Why are you making their lives miserable?" Rao asked.

"One justice for Akbaruddin's college? Another justice for the poor? Is this what Congress-style Indira Raj means? If there's truly the same justice for everyone, then why don't you demolish Akbaruddin's college building? Didn't you give notices and set deadlines last year? If it was demolished immediately after the academic year ended the college management could have looked for another building, right? Students could have been provided opportunities in alternative colleges, right? Without doing any of this, even though Akbaruddin has encroached upon ponds, poor people's lands, and government lands, engaged in hooliganism, and even failed to pay electricity bills, and given shelter to terrorists, should we just sit and watch if you say you'll provide protection to them? Akbaruddin's college should be demolished immediately. Otherwise, I'm warning that the BJP will do that job," said Ramachander Rao.

Union minister of state for home affairs, Bandi Sanjay too trained his guns at Owaisis and HYDRAA. “Are the Hydra authorities demolishing the houses of the poor in the name of encroachments, but giving exemptions to Akbaruddin Owaisi’s family, who have built buildings in lakes and ponds and are running colleges and businesses there? The same Hydra authorities claim they cannot demolish illegal constructions in Akbaruddin’s college because 10,000 students are studying there. But why did they demolish small houses and huts built by poor people in the Musi river catchment areas, who have no source of livelihood or shelter?," he asked.

Sanjay demanded answers from the government, "Do only the lives of Akbaruddin’s family have value? Don’t the lives of poor people matter? Are they not human? If MIM leaders attack police officers, no action is taken. If they don’t pay electricity bills, do you still support them? If they encroach on government and private lands, why do you turn a blind eye? Even if they have connections with terrorists and are given jobs and support, no one questions them? What kind of justice is this?".