HYDERABAD – The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) unit at the University of Hyderabad (HCU) has issued a formal denunciation of the incumbent ABVP-led Students’ Union, alleging "deception" and "false propaganda" regarding recent campus welfare measures.
The controversy centers on a newly implemented policy that mandates grocery stores on campus to provide discounts on the Maximum Retail Price (MRP). While the current Union has claimed this as a "landmark initiative" of their tenure, the SFI has produced documentary evidence suggesting the policy was finalized prior to the last election.
Evidence from Tender Documents
The SFI released details of Tender Enquiry No.: UoH/CPU/Tender/2025/1278, dated September 10, 2025. The document outlines specific criteria for vendor selection that prioritize student benefits:
Service Selection: Based on a lottery system to ensure transparency.
Goods Allotment: Awarded to bidders offering the maximum discount on total purchases, moving away from the previous model of awarding shops to those quoting the highest rent.
The SFI contends that because this tender was issued on September 10—prior to the dissolution of the previous union and the subsequent election—the ABVP Union is "whitewashing" the struggles of past student representatives to claim unearned credit.
Political Friction on Campus
The allegations come at a time of heightened political tension following the ABVP’s sweeping victory in the 2025 campus elections. The SFI claims the current leadership is attempting to reframe "hard-won student rights" as "charity" or a "personal mela" (fair) organized by their organization.
"The ABVP union, from the first day, has been a failure in taking up any student issues," the SFI statement read. "Instead, it has been busy taking advantage of the undue dissolution of previous unions without a UGBM (University General Body Meeting)."
Implications for Student Welfare
The policy shift from "highest rent" to "highest discount" is a significant administrative change. Under the previous system, high rents often led to higher prices for students. The current tender structure ensures that the financial benefit of the campus lease is passed directly to the student consumer through lower grocery costs.
The ABVP Union has yet to issue a formal rebuttal to the specific timeline provided by the SFI. However, the debate underscores a deep ideological divide on campus regarding which student body is truly responsible for systemic administrative reforms.
