Monsoon session of Telangana Assembly commences on September 7; prohibited properties issue rocks House

As expected, inclusion of vast stretches of lands in the prohibited properties list under Section 22A of the Registration Act rocked the Telangana Legislative Assembly on Monday, the first day of the monsoon session.

The Bharatuya Janata Party (BJP) leaders raised the issue immediately as the House assembled for the day, demanding an inquiry by a sitting judge into the issue. The BJP members trooped into the Well of the House raising slogans demanding judicial inquiry into land deals. 

Legislative Affairs Minister D. Sridhar Babu assured the members that the government was prepared for a short discussion on the 22A lands. It had resolved to raise the issue in the Business Advisory Committee meeting slated later in the day and had no objection for taking up the issue as the first item as part of the proceedings.

The BJP members led by A. Maheshwar Reddy however remained unrelenting and continued their slogans displaying placards seeking a debate on the land deals. Mr. Sridhar Babu alleged that the BJP members were trying to politicise the issue as could be seen from their protest in spite of the assurance from the Treasury Benches. 

Speaker G. Prasad Kumar too tired to convince the members asserting that the issue would be taken up by the BAC and a discussion would be allowed. Roads and Buildings Minister Komatlreddy Venkat Reddy, who intervened, lamented that the BJP members were not relenting in spite of the assurance given by the Legislative Affairs Minister. He charged the BJP with colluding with the main opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and stalling CBI probe into the irregularities of the Kaleshwaram project. “The BJP needs to answer why the probe by CBI is not ordered?” he said.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, who was watching the proceedings, left the House amid din created by the sloganeering members. With the slogan shouting continuing, the Speaker adjourned the House for 14 minutes.