Mumbai: Bollywood actress Richa Chadha has openly criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy for the clearance and auction of 400 acres of forest land in Telangana. The controversy has sparked widespread protests, with students and faculty from the University of Hyderabad leading demonstrations against the destruction of the biodiversity-rich Kancha Gachibowli land, located on the university campus.
On Wednesday, April 2, Telangana police resorted to lathi charges on protesting students and faculty members as tensions escalated. Several protesters were detained as they attempted to resist the clearance process.
Reacting to a viral video showing police dragging protestors into vans, Richa Chadha took to X (formerly Twitter) to express her discontent. She wrote, “Hey @RahulGandhi. Too much mohabbat. Have some mohabbat for nature also”, while also tagging the official X account of the Telangana Chief Minister.
Hey @RahulGandhi .
— RichaChadha (@RichaChadha) April 2, 2025
Too much mohabbat.
Have some mohabbat for nature also. @TelanganaCMO https://t.co/SKuFscR412
Student & Faculty Protests Intensify
A violent scuffle broke out between students and the police as authorities barricaded the university’s east campus, where excavators were clearing forested land. Protesters chanted slogans such as “Police go back”, “Awaaz Do Hum Ek Hain”, and “Ladenge Jeetenge”, as they attempted to breach the barricades.
Police then used force to disperse the demonstrators. Meanwhile, the University of Hyderabad Students’ Union announced an indefinite strike, staging an overnight sit-in at the administration building with mattresses, refusing to vacate until their demands were heard. The university registrar was scheduled to hold discussions with students on the matter later that day.
The Kancha Gachibowli Land Auction Controversy
Despite persistent protests, the Telangana government has proceeded with plans to clear and auction 400 acres of forest land in Kancha Gachibowli, located in the Rangareddy district. The state government expects to generate between ₹10,000 to ₹15,000 crore in revenue from the auction, with proposed developments including world-class IT parks and urban infrastructure.
Environmental activists and students argue that the large-scale deforestation will severely impact local biodiversity and could raise regional temperatures by 1 to 4 degrees Celsius. The matter has now reached the courts, with a hearing scheduled in the Telangana High Court on April 7.
