The CPI(M) has termed the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) by the State government to inquire into the land scam in Visakhapatnam a farce. It has also ridiculed the TDP’s decision to set up a three-member committee to inquire into the alleged differences between the party leaders.
“The committee has been constituted to settle the TDP’s internal squabbles and it has nothing to do with the land scam inquiry. We have no faith in the SIT, as it is going to work under the ruling party’s direction. We demand a CBI inquiry or a probe by a sitting judge,” said CPI(M) State Secretariat member Ch. Narasinga Rao on Friday. Mr. Narasinga Rao said the government, by not going ahead with the public hearing, had already diluted the inquiry into the land scam. Moreover, the SIT had been directed to inquire into the allegations pertaining to only two areas, Kommadi and Madhurawada, bringing into its ambit only about 300 acres when the scam extended to over 10 mandals covering over one lakh acres, he said.
“The scam is over ₹20,000 crore and the SIT is scale down the level of the scam,” the CPI(M) leader said.
Meanwhile, not knowing that the public hearing had been cancelled, a number of persons descended on the Collector’s office on Thursday to submit their grievances. They were, however, able to meet the Joint Collector and hand over their complaints.
