Announce ₹3 lakh for each family, construct houses on same land: KTR on Velugumatla houses demolitions

HYDERABAD

Demolition of houses of the poor living for the last 10 years after getting pattas legally at Velugumatla in Khammam was an indication of the Congress Government’s destructive thinking and policies, working president of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) K.T. Rama Rao alleged on Wednesday.

Addressing a press conference here along with party leaders Puvvada Ajay Kumar, R.S. Praveen Kumar, Tata Madhu, K.P. Vivekanand, Methuku Anand, Jogu Ramanna, Karne Prabhakar and others Mr. Rama Rao said it was unfortunate that the government had demolished the houses of the poor to help the ‘benamis’ of a few ministers.

He explained that some philanthropists had donated 62 acres of land to the Bhoodan movement (board) in the 1950s and of it 31 acres was occupied by the Congress leaders in the past and a large number of poor families were given pattas legally in the remaining land. The land was adjacent to villas pertaining to some ministers.

Criticising some ministers for insulting terming the victims (displaced families) as “paid artistes”, Mr. Rama Rao said the real paid artistes were those who were exploiting their positions in the government. He sought to know the rationale behind the government “gesture” of giving pattas of 75 square yards each to 310 out of over 1,000 displaced families after snatching their 100 SY land each.

Further, he ridiculed the government for foisting cases against BRS leaders who were providing meals to the displaced families till they found an alternative shelter. He demanded that the government withdraw cases registered against BRS leaders, announce ₹3 lakh each family for the loss of their belongings in the demolition exercise and construct houses on the same land by giving fresh pattas. The BRS would raise the issue in the coming session of the Assembly, he noted.