TDP demands recovery from CM for 'holding' assigned lands

Hyderabad, July 18 (UNI) The main opposition Telugu Desam Party in Andhra Pradesh today demanded that the Government recover money from Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and his family for allegedly holding assigned lands in Idupulapaya in Kadapa district for more than 30 years.

Initiating a short duration discussion on government lands and related issues, including recommendations of the Koneru Ranga Rao Committee, TDP Legislature Party Deputy Leader T Devender Goud alleged that only poor people were thrown out of their land.

Alleging that as many as five lakh acres of assigned land had changed hands from the original assignees in the state, he asked why the Government had not made recoveries from all those who had usurped assigned lands.

He demanded constitution of a land commission with statutory powers to set right all irregularities and immediate implementation of the Koneru Ranga Rao Committee report.

Mr Goud asked the Government to immediately stop land auctions in the state and also objected to the use of assigned lands for public purposes instead of restoring them to their original allottees.

Participating in the inconclusive discussion, CPI(M) Legislator P Ramaiah maintained that his party would intensify its stir for land to the poor and would not be cowed down by police action, including arrests and lathi-charge, in a bid to suppress their agitation.

He demanded appointment of an Ombudsman to look into all complaints relating to allotment of houses and house sites to the poor and constitution of a separate department to handle land-related issues.

The CPI-M leader asked the Government to conduct a survey of all Government lands under possession of the poor and give them pattas.

UNI