Dharna Over Vijayawada RTC Land Allocation To UAE’s Lulu Group

Committee convener and advocate Sunkara Rajendra Prasad called the allocation a blatant misuse of public assets. He warned that if the government goes ahead with the allotment to LuLu group, courts will strike it down, as happened with the previous government’s three-capital plan.

Former minister Vadde Sobhanadreeswara Rao and leaders Chigurupati Babu Rao and Ch. Narsinga Rao criticised the government for offering land at throwaway prices to a corporate giant, pointing out that in no other Indian state has LuLu received such prime land. They alleged that the annual lease amount of ₹40 crore as per market value has been reduced to just ₹2 crore.

Vadde said LuLu group has two malls in Kerala and 13 across the country. No state gave even an acre of land to LuLu and the company established its malls by procuring land on its own. He questioned why Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has given 13 acres of land on Visakhapatnam Beach Road and 4.17 acres in Vijayawada to the LuLu at throwaway prices.

“Naidu is only a trustee of government / public properties. He should, in fact, protect public assets,” the former minister remarked.

Protestors raised slogans demanding the revocation of GO 137 allotting the land to LuLu group, protection of RTC lands and an end to what they called the "land loot" by the ruling coalition. Speakers warned that such deals endanger small and medium businesses, undermine public property and violate constitutional principles.

Various associations and unions threatened to call for a Vijayawada bandh if the GO allotting the land is not withdrawn.