Hyderabad, July 28: BRS senior leader Shaik Abdullah Sohail on Tuesday alleged that the Congress government was converting minority institutions into “land banks” by leasing valuable public properties to private companies without transparency or competitive bidding.
Addressing a press conference, Sohail claimed that the government was systematically identifying prime urban land belonging to minority institutions and handing it over to private firms through long term lease arrangements.
He alleged that every department with valuable land was being treated as a “land bank” to benefit companies allegedly linked to those close to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy.
Referring to G.O.Ms. No. 20 issued by the Minority Welfare Department on July 18, Sohail alleged that nearly 5,220 square yards of land belonging to the Telangana Urdu Academy at Shaikpet had been leased to NN Infra and Construction for 30 years under the Build Operate Transfer model.
He claimed the property, valued at over ₹100 crore, was allotted without inviting tenders, Expressions of Interest or any competitive bidding process.
Sohail further alleged that the decision followed earlier controversies surrounding Waqf properties, including land linked to Jamia Nizamia and other Waqf institutions. He claimed these cases reflected a broader pattern of monetising minority assets.
Questioning the process, he asked why the Minority Welfare Department allegedly proceeded without obtaining legal opinion from the Additional Advocate General or following established procedures governing public land leases.
Sohail also expressed surprise over reports that Telangana Urdu Academy Chairman Taher Bin Hamdan was unaware of the government’s decision. He questioned the decision making process within the Minority Welfare Department.
Drawing parallels with the Jamia Nizamia land controversy, Sohail reiterated his demand for a judicial inquiry into the alleged alienation of Waqf properties. He claimed historical Waqf records supported the status of the disputed land and alleged that community concerns had been ignored.
The BRS leader demanded an independent judicial inquiry into all land allotments involving the Telangana State Waqf Board, Telangana Urdu Academy and other minority institutions during the present government’s tenure.
He also sought a white paper detailing ownership records, lease agreements, commercial projects, official correspondence and approvals relating to land belonging to minority institutions.
The Congress government has not responded to these allegations.
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