Opposition trains guns at government

Visakhapatnam: The land scam worth Rs 20,000 crore, which came to light in the district, is hotting up with all political parties CPM, YSR Congress Party, Congress and many Dalit organisations demanding that the state government order for a CBI probe into the scam cancelling the proposed investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT).

Highlights:

• Mounting pressure on government demanding a CBI probe
• CPM alleges setting up of a three-member panel is nothing but to suppress Minister Ayyanna’s outbursts against Ganta
• On-going spat between the two local Ministers is nothing but the handiwork of the government to dilute the intensity of the land scam issue, CPM leader alleges

Speaking to The Hans India here on Friday, CPM State Secretariat member Ch Narasinga Rao said that the setting up of a three-man panel to look into the serious land scam issue is nothing but to suppress the Roads and Buildings Minister Ch Ayyanna Patrudu’s outbursts and also to mislead the public.

Condemning the government’s attitude to safeguard those responsible for the land scam, he felt that it is not the TDP’s internal affair, but belongs to the public and majority of the public are of the opinion that HRD Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao was involved in the scam.

He charged that both Ministers P Narayana and Ganta were succeeded in suppressing Ch Ayyanna Patrudu by mounting pressure on Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. “Thousands of acres of government land in Visakha rural, Bhimili, Anandapuram, Padmanabham, Pendurti, Sabbavaram, Paravada, Anakapalli and Gajuwaka were grabbed by the political leaders in benami names.

The CPM leader reminded that Collector Pravin Kumar had announced on May 31 that names of land owners, photos, survey numbers and land extent were tampered. Besides, an extent of 50 acres of land near Circuit House was also grabbed in the name of Daspalla lands and all this was done only in connivance with the public representatives”, the CPM leader alleged.
He demanded that the government immediately acquire all the grabbed government lands.

Meanwhile, members of Mudapaka Bhu Parirakshana Samithi along with SC, BC assigned land farmers led by Dalita Hakkula Porata Samithi State secretary B Venkata Rao, staged a protest at Gandhi statue on Friday demanded that the government
include Mudapaka assigned land issue to the present burning land scam.

The protesters also demanded that cancel the proposed investigation by the SIT and hand over the probe to CBI or to a sitting judge and alleged that the on-going spat between the two local Ministers is nothing but the handiwork of the government to dilute the intensity of the land scam issue.

Venkata Rao questioned when the TDP in Telangana State was demanding CBI probe into the Miyapur land scam, why it was opting for SIT in Andhra Pradesh. “Realtor and the key person in the Mudapaka land scam N Venkata Rama Raju is claiming that the farmers have given lands on their own.

As the local MLA Bandaru is also supporting Rama Raju, the land scam issue must be handed over to the CBI or sitting judge”, Venkat Rao said. Another leader Saripalli Ganesh alleging that Rama Raju cheated the Dalit farmers by taking away land pattas and white papers with signatures luring them that Rs 10 lakh would be paid per acre, demanded severe action against him. AITUC leaders Padala Ramana, Samithi members M Ramakrishna, Busi Parameswari, S Varalakshmi and S Demudu also spoke.