Hyderabad: The Congress on Saturday reiterated its demand for a CBI probe into all the multi-crore land scams that have surfaced during the three years of TRS rule in the state. Senior Congress legislator T. Jeevan Reddy and Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Mohd Ali Shabbir asked Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao why he was silent on the CBI probe demanded by AICC general-secretary Digvijay Singh during his last visit to Hyderabad.
They said that since the reports about the involvement of TRS MP K. Kesava Rao and his family members in the land scam have surfaced, people have the right to know the facts from the government. They alleged that the CID and ACB had failed to catch the culprits and in fact allowing them to roam free since the government was involved neck deep in the scandal and was in charge of the investigations.
The Congress leaders recalled the various scams that surfaced during the TRS rule like cash-for-vote, Eamcet paper leak, Alair police encounter of Muslim youths and the gangster Nayeemuddin case. Mr Shabbir Ali said that the state was facing yet another important issue of deadly bacteria found in the fish seed supplied by the government. He said that the fish has been affected by the bacteria and died fish are floating on tanks and lakes.
Spurious fish seed supplied by the government has affected the lives of the fishermen. Government supplied 20 crore spurious fish seeds and projected 20,000 crore revenue, but ultimately the fishermen’s cooperative societies have suffered, he said. Mr Shabbir Ali demanded the officials responsible for this fish seed be suspended and fishermen across the state should be given compensation and extended financial assistance for at least one year for their sustenance.
Kesava Rao denies charges:
Rajya Sabha Member and TRS secretary-general K. Kesava Rao on Saturday denied the allegations against him that he purchased lands in Hafeezpur in Ibrahimpatnam illegally and bought government lands. Mr Kesava Rao said that he bought the lands in the village from Virgo Media Ltd. and got them registered under the orders of High Court based on Writ Petition 39658 dated February 3, 2016.
He said the registration was affected under High Court order in which the government was the respondent. “It was nobody’s mercy. I bought the lands from private entities absolutely following all guidelines and rules and Acts. Am I not aware of the Act, being a Member of Parliament?” he asked. Later, in a statement, Mr Kesava Rao said, “I bought 25 acres in Hafeezpur village taking extraordinary precautions after seeing the clearances given by Supreme Court, High Court, Special Chief Secretary, Chief Commissioner of Land Administration and the Ranga Reddy district collector. All my lands form part of court decree CS No 14/ 58 where the government was a party to it. It must be noted that in any dispute, the Court verdict is final, any adverse action or comment on such court decision is nothing but contempt.”
