The Telugu Desam Party Telangana State unit suspects a planned strategy by some ‘influential’ persons in the ruling TRS to encroach upon the prime government land.
TDP-TS working president A. Revanth Reddy said the government’s decision to repeal the Andhra Pradesh Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Act, 1982 and transfer of cases pending with the special court for land grabbing offences to regular courts were part of the strategy to encroach upon the government land. Mr. Revanth Reddy demanded that the government come out clear on the status of 123 acres of land in survey numbers 44 and 45 at Miyapur.
Speaking to reporters here on Friday, he alleged that TRS leaders were involved in the land encroachment cases that came to light at Miyapur, Ibrahimpatnam, Ghansimiyaguda and other places recently. The government had facilitated land grabbing by unilaterally scrapping the GO 113 related to prohibition of land grabbing. Though the government was expected to take the legislature into confidence for repealing the existing Act, it had unilaterally scrapped the same paving the way for vested interests to encroach the prime land. “The law provides for registering cases under the Preventive Detention Act against those found guilty of land grabbing,” he said, adding that the government was vested with powers to take up investigation and register non-bailable cases against the offenders.
Recalling the cases registered in Miyapur land deals, he said the Serilingampally Tehsildar had clearly mentioned in his initial complaint that 816 acres of land in six survey numbers was illegally registered. But the case registered subsequently reduced the extent of land to 692 acres in four survey numbers. “The government is maintaining secrecy over the land in two survey numbers. Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao should clarify about the status of these lands,” he said.
He alleged that the manner in which the government was trying to shield the accused was exposed in a case relating to Rajya Sabha member K. Keshav Rao.
Dr. Keshav Rao, according to Mr. Revanth Reddy, admitted that he had purchased land belonging to the Forest Department, but the government had backtracked on registering a case against such transaction. “Why is the government reluctant to register case against Dr. Keshav Rao? What message does it want to send to the people?” he asked.
