Harish Rao Questions Azamabad Land Allocation, Seeks Withdrawal of Decision

BRS senior leader and former Telangana minister T. Harish Rao has intensified his criticism of the Congress government over the proposed allocation of valuable government land at Azamabad in Hyderabad. In an open letter addressed to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, Rao questioned the decision involving land belonging to the Telangana State Oil Federation (Oilfed) and demanded that the government immediately reconsider the move.

The issue has added another flashpoint to the continuing political dispute between the BRS and the Congress over the management and utilisation of government-owned properties in Hyderabad. Rao has alleged that a high-value public asset is being transferred to a private party at a price far below its potential market value.

Dispute centres on Azamabad property

According to the details cited by Harish Rao, the property in question is located at Azamabad, close to the RTC Cross Roads area in Hyderabad. The land measures approximately 3 acres and 23 guntas, or around 15,984 square yards.

Rao has claimed that the property could command a market value of nearly ₹500 crore, while the proposed transaction involves an amount of about ₹87 crore. He questioned why a private individual should receive the property when a government-owned organisation, Oilfed, was reportedly prepared to pay the same ₹87 crore amount.

The BRS leader has sought an explanation from the state government regarding the circumstances surrounding the proposed allocation and the basis on which the transaction is being considered.

Harish Rao raises questions over government ownership

A major part of Rao's argument concerns the ownership history of the Azamabad land. In his letter, he referred to a 1987 Supreme Court case involving a private organisation and said the court had rejected the claim, reaffirming the government's rights over the property.

Rao used this historical reference to question the rationale behind any present attempt to transfer the land to private interests. He argued that government properties in prime locations should be protected because they represent public assets whose value can increase substantially over time.

The former minister also pointed to what he described as inconsistencies in the government's approach to land administration. He contrasted the treatment of properties placed on the prohibited 22A list with the government's handling of valuable land in major parts of Hyderabad.

Political battle over government land

The Azamabad controversy comes amid a broader political debate in Telangana over government land sales, auctions and allocations. Harish Rao has repeatedly accused the Revanth Reddy administration of relying heavily on government land-related transactions.

In recent remarks, he also criticised the state government's broader approach to government properties, arguing that public assets should not be treated merely as a source of revenue. The opposition has increasingly used land-related decisions as a political issue, particularly in Hyderabad, where government-owned parcels can have significant commercial value.

For the BRS, the Azamabad case therefore represents more than an individual property dispute. Rao has presented it as part of a wider question over whether government land is being managed in the long-term interests of Telangana or being used for immediate financial and political objectives.

Demand for cancellation

Harish Rao has called on the government to withdraw the proposed allocation and ensure that the complete freehold rights over the property remain with Oilfed. He has also demanded greater clarity about the decision-making process behind the proposed transaction.

The BRS leader warned that continued disposal of valuable government properties could leave future administrations with fewer public assets available for essential infrastructure and community requirements. His argument is that land in central urban locations is a finite resource and should be preserved wherever possible for future public needs.

BRS threatens wider protest

Rao has also made it clear that the BRS intends to continue opposing the decision if the government does not reconsider it. He said his party would pursue both legal and public avenues to challenge what it considers an improper transfer of public property.

The latest dispute is likely to keep the issue of government land at the centre of Telangana's political debate. With Hyderabad's prime land commanding high values, decisions involving government-owned properties are attracting close attention from opposition parties and the public alike.

For now, the principal demand from Harish Rao is straightforward: the proposed Azamabad land allocation should be withdrawn, the government's position on the property should be made clear, and the land should remain under the control of the public-sector entity that currently holds it.

The allegations and objections in this matter have been raised by Harish Rao and the BRS; the claims regarding the proposed transaction and its valuation should therefore be understood as political allegations unless independently established by official records or a competent authority.