AP Govt denies political vendetta in Jaya land

Hyderabad, Jan 30 (UNI) The Andhra Pradesh Government has denied any political vendetta behind its decision to serve notice to AIADMK Supremo Jayalalithaa for holding 8.10 acre of ''assigned land'' in Ranga Reddy District on the city outskirts.

The Government was within its rights to slap notice on Ms Jayalalithaa for holding ''assigned lands'', State Revenue Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao, who called on Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy to discuss the issue yesterday, maintained in a statement here.

Mr Rao wanted Ms Jayalalitha to prove that the land held by her was not assigned, before the revenue authorities concerned.

He said Dr Reddy's Pro-poor Government had so far distributed over four lakh acres to the weaker sections and commmitted to take back all 'assigned' lands from the ineligible people and give them back to the poor. ''This is not to wreak political vengeance'', he added.

''No one is above law'', he said, adding it was ''unbecoming' on her part to criticise the pro-peasant Government.

According to the notice issued by the revenue authorities, during 1978-80 Ms Jayalalitha and her mother N R Sandhya had purchased the ''Kancha Poramboke'' land in Petbasheerabad, assigned to three poor persons Yerra Sailu(3.2 acre), K Ramaswamy(3.15 acre) and Dappu Pochaiah(1.15 acres) by the then Government in 1956-58.

This was in contravention of the provisions of subsection(2) of section 8 if the Andhra Pradesh Assigned lands (prohibition of transfers) act, 1977, he said.

The notice directed Ms Jayalalitha to show cause within 15 days why she should not be summarily evicted from the said land and forfeit any crop or construction raised in the land.

After the surrender of 'assigned' lands by the Chief Minister in his native Kadapa district, the State Governemnt had set up cells at the state and district levels to identify and take back all assigned' lands from unauthorised people and redistribute them to the poor.

UNI