Cong slams GU over Rs 250cr land lease

The Congress on Monday accused Gujarat University (GU) of renting out a premium property of varsity without following due process in violation of norms. Alleging favouritism, the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson Parthivrajsinh Kathwadia said a premium chunk of GU land near Blind People’s Association worth over Rs 250 crores was rented out to Radhe Enterprises, Ranip, for eleven months, without inviting tenders

“When the Gujarat Common Universities Act was implemented, concerns were repeatedly raised about centralisation of power with Vice-Chancellor. This nightmarish Act is now bringing worst fears to life, at least at Gujarat University,” said Kathwadia.

He said it defies logic why valuable land would be allotted to Radhe Enterprises for a rent of Rs 75,000 per day from August 15 onwards without any tender process and solely on the basis of a letter.

“Was the land that was leased on an 11-month contract given out at the behest of BJP bosses?  Will the lands donated by the Mahajans be traded like this? The land was given for students and education, but it is being used for a different purpose. Did the varsity even discuss how the land is to be utilised?” he asked. He also sought  probe into whether the land was given at the behest of the education minister. Kathwadia said Radhe Enterprises applied for the university’s land on March 29, 2025, and the chancellor allocated the land in five months.

Calls to GU registrar Piyush Patel for his response to the allegations did not elicit any response.