Harish Rao Flays Opposition Over Land Sale Remarks

Telangana Finance Minister T Harish Rao today criticised the leaders of the Congress and the BJP for the comments made by them against the TRS government's proposal to sell its lands to fund future expenses.

Speaking after laying the foundation for the construction of two irrigation projects in Sangameshwara and Basaweshwara, which it is hoped will irrigate thousands of acres in Sangareddy district, the minister rebuked the Congress for its opposition to the proposal, saying, "The Congress should remember that its governments under YSR, Roshaiah and Kiran Kumar Reddy had sold about 88,500 acres of land. Most of this land was situated in and around Hyderabad. But, our government plans only to sell unused or wastelands to fund welfare and development works in the state with the proceeds."

He also criticised Congress leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka for opposing the land sale plan, and ridiculed the leader for stating that the Congress, on coming to power, would get back the lands sold by the TRS government.

"How can the Congress, BJP and other parties talk against plans for development? Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao plans to sell the non-performing assets and lands in the state in order to use the funds generated by the sales for the welfare of the people," Rao said.

He accused the leaders of the BJP of "adopting double standards" on the issue, and claimed that the party was not opposing with equal fervour the Centre's move to direct the states to sell PSUs.

"The BJP-led Centre is trying to sell lands of PSUs like the BHEL and ordinance factories. It is trying to disinvest in some others. These moves will hit the poor and the working class hard. The Centre has hiked fuel prices 43 times and it has increased taxes. The state government has not indulged in any such moves. Instead, it has been implementing several welfare schemes for the poor and the farmers. The saffron party's leaders have no right to criticise our proposal," the TRS bigwig fumed.