YSR turns down oppn demand on land issue

Hyderabad, Dec 18 (UNI) Turning down the opposition demand for his resignation, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today said under a Rs 1,100 crore ''Bhu Bharati'' scheme, all encroached lands would be unearthed and distributed to the poor.

Replying to a lengthy debate on the land issue in the Assembly, which witnessed heated exchanges between the ruling and opposition party members, Dr Reddy asserted ''My Government is committed to perform a Bhu Yagnam to retrieve these lands.'' The Government would take assistance from the Centre or the World Bank for the implementation of the scheme, he said adding a three month deadline has been set for all those possessing lands, assigned to dalits, to surrender it.

The government would implement the Lands Acts strictly and amend them if necessary to acquire assigned lands, he said amid thumping of desks by treasury benches.

Leader of the Opposition N Chandrababu Naidu, seeking clarification, alleged that Chief Minister had violated his oath to uphold the constitution by 'suppressing' details of the land in question in the affidavit filed before Election authorities.

Dr Reddy should subject himself to prosecution for alleged violation of seven land laws, he demanded.

Even as the opposition demanded constitution of a House committee to conduct a survey of the land surrendered by Chief Minister in his native Kadapa district during the debate on the issue in the Assembly, Dr Reddy offered to send a senior revenue official and a former Government servant, now with the Heritage Foods owned by the family of Chandrababu Naidu, for the purpose.

More UNI AP/SM VD GC1859