Hyderabad: BJP State president N Ramchander Rao demanded a white paper and judicial inquiry into the 22-A land issue, alleging that the Congress government’s decisions had caused severe hardship to farmers and landowners.
Rao made the demand while addressing a dharna by farmers at Siddipet. MP Raghunandan Rao also joined the protest against the inclusion of registered patta lands in the 22-A prohibited list.
Farmers and other residents held the protest outside the RDO office at the Siddipet district headquarters. They alleged that authorities had illegally included their registered patta lands in the prohibited list.
Rao demanded that the government immediately explain why farmers’ lands entered the 22-A list. He also sought a comprehensive judicial inquiry into the alleged conspiracy behind the confusion and into those who were benefiting from it.
The BJP State chief said his party would continue to support farmers. He also pledged an uncompromising struggle over their land rights.
22-A land issue triggers criticism of Congress policies
Rao alleged that the Revanth Reddy government had failed to protect farmers’ interests. He also claimed that the government had not effectively implemented Rythu Bharosa or Rythu Bandhu.
The BJP leader said the Congress had promised ₹15,000 under Rythu Bharosa against the earlier ₹12,000. It had also promised Rythu Bandhu support for tenant farmers, he said.
According to Rao, tenant farmers were currently facing severe distress. He alleged that they accounted for the highest number of farmer suicides in the State.
Regular farmers, meanwhile, were struggling to protect their land because of the 22-A land issue, he claimed.
Rao criticised both the previous Dharani system and the current Bhu Bharathi system. He said farmers had suffered under Dharani and alleged that Bhu Bharathi had made their problems worse.
He claimed that lakhs of acres and plots in Malkajgiri, Chevella and Siddipet had entered the 22-A prohibited list. The BJP leader alleged that the issue had affected nearly 50 lakh people across Telangana.
Families were unable to sell their land when they needed money for children’s education or daughters’ marriages, Rao said. He claimed that the resulting uncertainty had caused severe mental distress among affected families.
Rao questioned why the government had not corrected the problem after Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Housing Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy acknowledged that an error had occurred.
He also criticised the political leadership over the continuing land disputes. Referring to the previous and present governments, Rao said the parties and rulers had changed but people’s problems remained unresolved.
BJP seeks inquiry into land records and alleged irregularities
Rao alleged that Revanth Reddy had greater experience and interest in real estate than governance. He accused the Congress government of following a strategy that allegedly created land disputes and depressed property values.
He further alleged that the government was attempting to frighten poor landowners, acquire their properties at lower prices and later sell them at higher rates.
The BJP leader demanded accountability for the hardship caused to affected citizens. He also questioned who would compensate people for the alleged mental harassment arising from the 22-A land issue.
Rao reiterated that the BJP wanted the government to publish a detailed white paper on the inclusion of lands in the prohibited list.
He also pressed for a judicial inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the 22-A issue and the interests allegedly benefiting from the confusion.
The Siddipet protest formed part of the BJP’s campaign against the 22-A prohibited list and the difficulties faced by farmers and landowners.