Union Minister for Coal and Mines and Telangana BJP President G Kishan Reddy said the BJP is not against land acquisition or selling land for public needs. He clarified that the party’s objection to the sale of Kancha Gachibowli land is not a fight between the BJP and the Congress-led state government.
Speaking informally to the media on Tuesday, Kishan Reddy criticized the state government for cutting down trees without proper permission. He pointed out that even cutting a single tree in the Greater Hyderabad area needs approval, yet the government destroyed many trees at night without explanation. He questioned the urgency behind such actions, especially when environmental and forest laws were ignored.
Kishan Reddy also mentioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent comments, where he said Congress governments in states like Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka have been increasing taxes. He noted that Telangana’s government is depending on selling land to run its operations. He criticized both the BRS and Congress governments for relying too much on liquor sales, land sales, and loans to manage the state’s needs.
He expressed concern about the construction of high-rise buildings near Kancha Gachibowli, saying there is little demand for them. He stressed the importance of preserving the 400 acres of greenery in that area, calling it a “lung space” for the city that helps protect biodiversity. He suggested that land for IT companies could be given in other locations.
Regarding the ownership of the 400 acres, Kishan Reddy said Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had already written to the state government, asking them to define the boundaries and give the land to the University of Hyderabad, which claims it belongs to them.
On the Hyderabad Metro Rail Project Phase II, he said the Union government is reviewing the proposals. The review includes checking the cost and scope of the project. He mentioned a similar discussion that happened with the Chennai Metro, where the budget was reduced after talks with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.
Talking about the newly introduced Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development Act-2025 (UMEED Act-2025), Kishan Reddy said some parties were spreading false information about it. He claimed that common Muslims are not worried about these objections. He emphasized that the Act aims to bring transparency and better income from Waqf properties, ensuring that no Waqf land will be taken away.
On politics, Kishan Reddy advised Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy to focus on his own work instead of claiming he can stop the BJP. He said the BJP will win the next state elections whenever they are held but added that he hopes the Congress government completes its five-year term.
He also said that the main fight in the upcoming GHMC elections will be between the BJP and the Majlis. He accused the Majlis of working with the BRS and Congress to extend their influence across Hyderabad. Finally, Kishan Reddy said the BJP is growing stronger in areas like Khammam, Nalgonda, and Warangal, and that a decision on the state BJP president elections will be made soon.
