Basheer Bagh X Road Row | Hyderabad, Oct. 24: Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT) spokesperson Amjed Ullah Khan has questioned the reported move to rename Basheer Bagh X Road as “Sree Ram Chowk.” He has also raised concerns over a religious structure and a large cut-out of Lord Sree Ram at a GHMC park in the area.
Khan questioned the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and Hyderabad City Police over the alleged installation. He claimed that the cut-out was installed without permission from the concerned civic authorities.
He also alleged that BJP and RSS-linked leaders had been publicly referring to Basheer Bagh X Road as “Sree Ram Chowk” in recent days. Statements attributed to VHP spokesperson Dr Ravinuthala Shashidhar and former BJP corporator Akula Sarvani have reportedly circulated on social media.
Khan questioned the authority of political parties or organisations to rename a public road unilaterally. He asked the authorities to clarify whether any formal approval had been granted for the proposed name change.
Basheer Bagh X Road Row | MBT Raises Questions Over Park, Police Action
Khan said Basheer Bagh derives its name from Bashir-ud-Dowla Nawab Asman Jah Bahadur, who served as Prime Minister of the erstwhile Hyderabad State from 1887 to 1894. He also recalled that Asman Jah built Basheer Bagh Palace in 1880. Historical accounts confirm the palace’s association with the former Hyderabad prime minister.
According to Khan, the Nawab encouraged gold and diamond traders from different parts of the world to establish businesses near the palace. He said the area subsequently developed into a prominent jewellery trading centre.
Khan further alleged that a portion of the GHMC park had been occupied and a religious structure constructed there. He said he did not recall seeing a temple inside the park when he travelled through the area during his school years.
He also questioned the barricading and closure of roads leading towards Nizam College Ground and Fateh Maidan. He asked Hyderabad City Police to explain the reasons for these restrictions and their legal basis.
The MBT spokesperson also questioned the Intelligence Department’s role in monitoring developments that could potentially create tension in the area.
Questions Over Social Media Enforcement
Khan alleged that authorities had acted selectively against social media content critical of BJP and RSS activities.
He recalled that he and several Muslim journalists had posted content concerning the alleged slapping of Mohammed Anwer Khan, principal of Bharath Chandra School in Armoor, by Madhula Balu, the BJP president of Armoor town.
Khan claimed that R. Bhaskaran, Deputy Inspector General of the Counter Intelligence Cell, subsequently wrote to X and Meta seeking the removal of content posted by around 40 people, including journalists.
He also alleged that police had taken action against Muslim journalists over posts concerning BJP and RSS activities. Khan questioned why similar scrutiny was not being applied to videos featuring statements about the proposed renaming of Basheer Bagh X Road.
The allegations and questions raised by MBT require responses from the concerned authorities. No official road-renaming order or response from GHMC and Hyderabad City Police was included in the statement provided.
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