Kancha Gachibowli Land Controversy: Narendra Modi Responds

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched a sharp attack on the Telangana Congress government, accusing it of destroying forests and harming wildlife. Speaking at an event in Haryana on the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti, Modi said the Telangana government was busy running bulldozers over forest land, ignoring its promises to the people. He contrasted this with the Centre's efforts to protect the environment, accusing the Congress-led state government of damaging forest wealth.

The remarks come at a time when the Congress has been openly criticizing BJP governments in various states. Modi responded by turning the focus on Telangana, saying the Congress government there has forgotten the people’s concerns and is instead prioritizing the destruction of natural resources. “This is the true nature of Congress,” he remarked.

The controversy comes in the backdrop of the Kancha Gachibowli land issue in Hyderabad, which recently gained national attention. The Telangana government had reportedly made arrangements to sell lands in the Kancha Gachibowli area. These lands, left unused for years, had become densely forested. Being close to the University of Hyderabad (HCU), it is believed that the area had become a habitat for wildlife.

Recently, social media was flooded with videos claiming that large-scale flattening of over 100 acres had led to wildlife deaths on nearby roads. These videos quickly went viral, drawing attention nationwide and possibly influencing Prime Minister Modi's remarks.

However, the Telangana government has strongly denied these claims. Officials stated that the videos in circulation are fake and clarified that the wildlife is located within the HCU campus, which spreads over 2,000 acres. Furthermore, the government has taken legal action, filing cases against those responsible for creating and spreading the videos. According to police, forensic analysis confirmed that the videos were AI-generated.

Despite these clarifications, Modi’s direct reference to the issue has added fuel to the controversy. His comments are expected to spark fresh political tensions between the Centre and the Telangana state government.

Meanwhile, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has also been vocal in criticizing the Prime Minister. At a recent Congress rally in Ahmedabad, Revanth claimed the BJP was more dangerous than the British, further intensifying the political war of words between the two parties.