Kurnool: Six years after its establishment, the Dr Abdul Haq Urdu University here is expected to get temporary accommodation at the old Government Boys’ Degree College campus.Sanctioned in 2019 during the Telugu Desam term, the university remained without basic infrastructure and a functioning campus, drawing criticism from minority leaders over a lack of governmental response to their pleas. The varsity offers three basic degree and postgraduate programmes, along with honors courses in economics, computer science, computer applications and business analytics under its BBA stream. It also admits students who have completed Madarsa programmes recognised by respective state boards into its UG and PG programmes. In 2017, the state government allotted 144 acres of land for the varsity at Orvakal on the Kurnool–Nandyal highway and sanctioned `18.4 crore for its initial development. Then chief minister Chandrababu Naidu laid the foundation stone in January 2018. Initially named after Pakistan-based scholar Moulvi Abdul Haq, the university’s name was changed through a government gazette in 2018 to Dr Abdul Haq, a noted scholar from Kurnool, following backlash from local Muslim intellectuals. However, no progress was made during the subsequent five years. Minority leaders allege that under the YSR Congress rule, no construction work took place, no additional funds were released, and the campus remained neglected. “They ignored this university,” said Mansoor Ali Khan, organising secretary of the TDP minority wing. He said, “We took the issue to minister TG Bharath and urged him to expedite the process. Muslim minority students have waited for long to see the university functional in a proper academic environment.” With the new government degree college campus in Kurnool nearing completion, the state higher education department has proposed relocating the Urdu University to the existing college building.Collegiate education director Narayana Bharat Gupta recently sent a letter to the authorities seeking such an arrangement. If the transition occurs this summer, the university could begin its operations from the new location by the next academic year. In fact, issues related to hostels and student amenities at the university still remain unaddressed.
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