Khanamet Land Sale Is A Scam: Revanth Reddy

TPCC head and Malkajgiri MP A Revanth Reddy today alleged that the recent auction of government lands had led to a big land scam in Telangana, saying that the state's exchequer had incurred a loss of Rs 1,000 crore due to this.

Speaking to the media, he also alleged that the state government had "simply handed over" lands to the sons of industrialist Jupally Rameshwara Rao and that Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao had helped the industrialist's companies before and had provided assistance and benefits worth hundreds of crores of rupees to them.

Reddy accused the leaders of the TRS of having rigged the auctions, and claimed that the leaders' families were the ones who had bought the lands in the recent auctions.

"Many irregularities took place in the conduct of the Kokapet land auction. While the companies owned by Industrialist Rameswara Rao bought 18 acres of land, two companies belonging to Siddipet district collector Venkatarami Reddy also bought 9.5 acres of land. In this scam of an auction, a total of five successful bidders caused losses of Rs 1,000 crore to the state exchequer. These five bidders also prevented the top companies of the country from taking part in the tendering process. I demand that the state government cancel the land dealings involving the sale of government lands for rates less than Rs 60 crore per acre. It is clear that the only reason that this auction was held was to increase the real estate sector boom in the area," he thundered.

The Congress bigwig then said that after the sales, no land would be left for the establishment of graveyards and other public amenities.

Calling out the ruling party for its alleged double standards, Reddy reminded the ruling party that ministers T Harish Rao and K T Rama Rao had opposed the auction of government lands during the rule of the Congress in undivided Andhra Pradesh.

He asserted that he had the evidence to support his allegations and that he would soon submit them to Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, and would urge the latter to launch an enquiry into the sales.

Further, the MP stated that he would lodge a complaint with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue as well.

Commenting on the upcoming Parliament session, he said that the Congress would fight to secure Telangana's share of river waters.