Govt taking Dalit lands: BJP

Hyderabad, May 21 (UNI) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State President Bandaru Dattatraya today alleged the state govenment was "illegally taking lands from the poor people, particularly the Dalits." Mr Dattatraya accompanied by General Secretary Chinta Samba Murty and other leaders visited Budvel Village in Ranga Reddy District where the lands belonging to Dalits were handed over to the Hyderabad Urban Development Authority.

He said the government had given pattas for the lands measuring 250 acre to 66 Dalits in 1973 and these lands had been in possession of the Dalits who cultivated them.

He alleged the state government had become a commericial organisaton illegally taking the lands from poor particularly Dalits.

The value of these lands had risen upto Rs three crore per acre as the outer ring road was passing through this land and the International airport was coming up at nearby Shamshabad.

The govenment should not acquire this land and if necesary the Dalits should be allotted alternative land or given compensation as per market rate.

He said the BJP would launch an agitation to safeguard the interests of the Dalits.

UNI