Left and Right stand united against TG govt’s land auction

1. Rare unity: Leftist student unions and right-wing groups are protesting together against the Congress-led Telangana government’s land auction.
2. Political heavyweights involved: BJP and CPI(M) have joined the movement, escalating concerns to national agencies and the courts.
3. BJP vs Congress: While BJP claims non-political intent, its opposition is seen as a strategic move against the ruling Congress in Telangana.
4. Protests gain nationwide attention: As demonstrations intensify, the movement has drawn attention beyond party lines, uniting various sections of society.

In a rare display of political unity, student organizations and parties from opposite ends of the ideological spectrum have come together to oppose the Telangana government's decision to auction 400 acres of land in Kancha Gachibowli. The decision by the Congress-led state government, has drawn fierce resistance from both Left-leaning student unions and right-wing organizations, marking a moment of unexpected camaraderie between traditionally opposing factions.

On the University of Hyderabad (UoH) campus, the recognized student alliance comprising the Students Federation of India (SFI), Ambedkar Students Union, Bahujan Students Front, and Dalit Students Union has been leading the protest against the proposed land sale. Meanwhile, outside the university gate, right-wing groups such as the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) have been staging their own demonstrations, urging the state government to reconsider its decision.

Political heavyweights have also joined the fray. Both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] have thrown their weight behind the students' fight. BJP leaders in Telangana have leveraged their connections in New Delhi to escalate the issue to the Central government, particularly bringing it to the attention of the Ministry of Environment and Forests and other agencies.

This unusual alliance between the Left and the Right recalls a similar period of unity during the Telangana statehood movement when the BJP, CPI, and CPI(ML) New Democracy worked together as part of the Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC). However, such collaboration has been rare, with stark ideological clashes resurfacing, particularly during incidents like the 2016 protests following the suicide of Rohith Vemula at UoH, where Left-aligned student unions were on a warpath with ABVP and the BJP-led NDA government.

Providing insight into the current solidarity, Prof. G. Haragopal, former professor and dean at UoH, noted that the Congress being in power has allowed the BJP to swiftly align itself with the movement. "The issue has now transcended political rivalry and become a universal concern. It is not just about parties and students anymore—various sections of society, national agencies, and even courts are paying attention," he observed.

CPI(M) Hyderabad City Secretariat Member M. Srinivas emphasized that the Left’s involvement is strictly a matter of policy. "We oppose any move that seeks to take away land meant for educational institutions and hand it over to private companies. This is about protecting public resources, not about speaking against the Congress party," he stated. However, he also acknowledged the BJP’s potential political motivations, adding, "BJP might have its own reasons for joining the fight, as Congress is its primary rival both in Telangana and at the national level."

On the other hand, BJP senior leader N. Ramachander Rao dismissed the notion that the party’s involvement is purely political. "While we may have ideological differences with the Left, the Kancha Gachibowli issue is about protecting university land, interests of students, teachers, and the area’s wildlife and biodiversity. We are not against development or investment, but the government should explore alternative sites for auction," he asserted.

As protests continue to gain momentum, the Kancha Gachibowli land row has become a battleground where political adversaries find themselves on the same side—at least for now. The fight to protect the land has overshadowed traditional ideological divides.