Four opposition parties came together to press for a CBI inquiry into the land scandals in VUDA and get back fraudulently registered in benami transactions. Leaders of the four parties- CPI State secretary K. Narayana, Lok Satta president N. Jayaprakash Narayan, senior TDP leader K. Yerrannaidu and BJP Legislature party leader Y. Lakshminarayana- have expressed their resolve to continue their fight against the corrupt land registrations and launch direct action.
“Land should be either with the government or the poor who need it for housing,” CPI State secretary K. Narayana told reporters at the end of their visit to Ozone Valley, Cyber Valley, two VUDA layouts and Survey No 34 and 35 of Rushikonda.
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The scandal indicated a criminal conspiracy as land was allotted to aged persons and within no time changed hands. Though it was stated that the land involved was worth Rs.560 crore, it was worth Rs.3,500 crore to Rs.4,000 crore and no less serious than the Emaar scandal, he said.
Inquiry should be conducted by a sitting High Court judge or setting up a special court, he demanded as there was always a possibility of the Congress using the scandal to selectively to settle its internal scores, he said.
Lok Satta president Jayaprakash Narayan said the land was registered in the name of those who were not entitled to it and immediately must be repossessed by the government which appears to be shielding those involved. Giving land to the ineligible was also against the Supreme Court order on allocation of natural resources and even the Centre had decided to withdraw its review petition. The ill-gotten wealth should be attached and the officials involved jailed, he demanded. Besides, Lok Ayukta should be strengthened as an independent agency, he stated.
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Senior TDP leader K. Yerrannaidu said not ordering a CBI inquiry was tantamount to the government shielding those involved.
Vigilance inquiries ordered twice earlier into land scandals yielded nothing, he alleged.
The inquiry should cover all officials involved in the scandal, he said.
Mr. Lakshminarayana pointed out that incumbent official had sent a report on the scandal involving several officials.
The ACB inquiry into the liquor scandal was watered down with a key official being transferred.
Hence CBI inquiry was the only way out, he said.
TDP district president Ch. Ayyanna Patrudu, CPI district secretary J.V. Satyanarayana Murthy and senior BJP leader K. Haribabu and city president M. Nagendra participated.