Hailing the decision of Centre to cancel the mining permits in Bayarram, Congress senior leader and MLC Palvai Govardhan, on Friday, stated that the Centre had acted swiftly in cancelling the mining lease rights even though the state government kept the file for reconsideration.
Govardhan said that the Centre had shown its tough stance against the mining mafia by cancelling the mining permits.
The MLC told media persons that some people belonging to a particular community had benefitted from the illegal mining in the state.
Palvai also criticised former chief minister late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy for granting permits liberally to the mining mafia. He said that YSR's largesse has helped the mining mafia plunder the state's natural resources by mining unrestrained and amassing mineral wealth to the tune of thousands of crores of rupees.
"The High Command appointed YSR as CM, taking into account his credentials. However, he helped one community in looting mining property," Palvai claimed.
The senior leader said that the time has now come for the Congress party to open its eyes and act tough against the mining mafia.
He also appealed to Chief Minister K Rosaiah to declare September 17 as Telangana Liberation Day and celebrate it as a state fete.