Land Fracas: Assembly Stalled Again

For the 3rd consecutive day, the Andhra Pradesh State Assembly on Friday witnessed chaos and vociferous arguments over the alleged unlawful land deals.

The entire opposition unanimously demanded the appointment of a joint legislature committee to probe into the alleged land deals.

The Chair could not control the enraged opposition of N Chandrababu Naidu, whose outburst reverberated in the House.

Bowing to the escalated pressure mounted by the members of the entire opposition, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy informed that he will soon make an announcement on the particulars related to the controversial land allocations.

He also categorically stated that he would certainly take the opposition leaders' advices, and further stated that he will review the Brahmani Infrateck land allotments.

However, he clarified that he will review only the system of land allotment and not the alleged unlawful land allocations. This sparked off a furor in the House, with Chandrababu Naidu taking the treasury benches to task over the indifference to the demand for appointing a joint legislature committee to probe the land allocations.

Naidu alleged that kick-backs were being received by the vested interests in the unlawful allocations of a prime land in Hyderabad, and told the House that pressure would be mounted on the government until a joint house committee was ordered to check the said allotments.

He stated that there was a big hand behind all the 'land allotments', and a lot of irregularities. "There has been a misuse of thousands of crores of public money," he charged.

Insisting on tabling the particulars of the said land allocations, Naidu pointed out that 'corruption' and scams are hot topics for debate in all the legislatures of the country. He also stressed on the urgency to inform all these particulars to the people.

Reacting to these allegations, Deputy Speaker Nadendla Manohar said that despite the government's assurance that a review would be held on the said issue, it was not proper to stall the House.

Major Industries Minister J Geetha Reddy informed that the Chief Minister would make an announcement on the contentious issue. Dissatisfied with her reply, CPM MLA Julakanti Rangareddy said that the government should testify its honesty by ordering the appointment of a joint legislature committee immediately.

Lok Satta MLA Jayaprakash Narayan also demanded that a joint legislature committee be ordered into the whole land issue. Stating that it was not proper to place public resources into the hands of a few self-centred land sharks, and that too when the prime land was scarce, he deplored that the natural resources have been turned into centres of corruption.

On the same lines, BJP MLA G Kishen Reddy too demanded a probe into the land scam. He suggested that the lands that were given away at a throwaway price earlier should be taken back by the government.

During the session, TDP members trooped into the Well of the House and surrounded the Speaker's podium. Holding placards, they raised their voices in the favour of a joint legislature committee to look into the alleged land scam.

The CPI and CPM members also supported Naidu, and the Speaker's plea for their cooperation fell on deaf ears, leading to the adjournment of the House for the day.

Courtesy: INN