Hyderabad, January 25: Leaders of various social and voluntary Muslim organisations alleged a massive Rs 400 crore land scam in Telangana involving prime property meant to promote the Urdu language and culture and demanded a thorough investigation. The alleged scandal was highlighted during a meeting organised by Mohibban-e-Urdu (Urdu Lovers) on Saturday at Media Plus, Gun Foundry, Abids, Hyderabad.
Presided over by former MP Syed Aziz Pasha, the meeting brought together intellectuals, legal experts, journalists, and Urdu enthusiasts. Tahreek Muslim Shabban President Mohammed Mushtaq Mallik delivered a keynote address focused on the challenges facing the Urdu language and institutions, with participants voicing concerns over alleged corruption and mismanagement threatening Urdu’s survival.
Eminent leaders such as Advocate Md Afzal, Ilyas Shamshi, Moulana Hameed Rahmani Chisti Quadri, CPI State Executive Member Syed Abdul Mannan, former Chairman of Urdu Academy Raheemullah Khan Niazi and Advocate MA Salam raised allegations of a land scam. They presented documents accusing office-bearers of Idara-e-Adabiyat-e-Urdu, including President Zahed Ali Khan, MLC Amer Ali Khan, and General Secretary Prof. SA Shukoor, of betraying the trust of the Urdu-speaking community.
The controversy revolves around “Karab Bagh,” a 4-acre 3-gunta property near Golconda Fort. Granted by Nizam VII for the promotion of the Urdu language and culture, the land has significant historical value. Valued at Rs 400 crore, it was allegedly sold for Rs 2 crore in 2023 through a questionable compromise agreement. Despite winning ownership in a 2013 legal battle, the society reportedly transferred the property to the opposing parties in 2023, raising doubts about the legality of the deal.
Legal experts criticised the sale as a violation of the Societies Registration Act and the Transfer of Property Act. Advocate MA Salam argued that the agreement breached judicial authority and constituted a criminal breach of trust under the Indian Penal Code. Leaders demanded a government audit, nullification of the land transfer, and criminal prosecution of those involved.
The meeting also addressed broader challenges affecting Urdu’s survival in Telangana. Participants criticised the acute shortage of Urdu teachers, which has endangered Urdu-medium schools. Despite a seven-year wait since the 2017 recruitment notification, the DSC-2024 process filled only 517 out of 1,183 Urdu-medium teacher posts, leaving 666 positions vacant. Candidates opposed a fresh exam proposal, demanding the government recruit from those who passed earlier tests.
Universities such as Mahatma Gandhi University, Palamuru University, and Kakatiya University lack Urdu departments despite provisions under the Official Languages Act. Osmania University has stopped its PhD program in Urdu due to faculty shortages, and no efforts have been made to appoint visiting professors or conduct entrance tests. Leaders also criticised the government’s superficial efforts to implement Urdu as the second official language, citing a lack of Urdu signage, press releases, and recruitment of translators.
The meeting concluded with a resolution to form a fact-finding committee headed by Minorities for Peace & Justice (MPJ) President Mohammed Abdul Azeez as Convener to investigate the status of Urdu institutions and assets, including Idara-e-Adabiyat-e-Urdu’s headquarters, Urdu Arts College, and Urdu Ghar.
A state-level committee, headed by former MP Aziz Pasha, has also been formed to launch a sustained campaign to protect and promote Urdu in Telangana.
“This is more than a legal issue; it’s a matter of cultural and linguistic survival,” said Mushtaq Mallik, urging the community to unite against the exploitation of Urdu’s heritage.
The meeting was attended by intellectuals, professors, doctors, advocates, journalists, representatives of Urdu associations, and others participated in the meeting. They included Iqbal Ahmed Engineer, former Chairman of Urdu Academy Raheemullah Khan Niazi, former Vice Chairman of Urdu Academy Mohammed Abdul Hakeem, eminent journalist Dr Fazil Hussain Pervez, Daag Dehlvi Foundation Chairman Syed Miskeen Ahmed, Vice Presidents of Tahreek Muslim Shabban MA Ghaffar and Abdul Haq Qamar.
