Emotional scenes unfold as displaced families narrate their plight to KTR in Khammam

BRS working president KT Rama Rao visited Vinobha Navodaya Colony in Khammam after a demolition drive left several families homeless. Residents alleged police threats and sought justice. Rama Rao assured them that the BRS would stand by and fight for their rights.

Khammam: Emotional scenes unfolded here on Thursday as BRS working president KT Rama Rao interacted with families displaced in a massive demolition drive carried out by the revenue and police departments on Tuesday.

Rama Rao visited Vinobha Navodaya Colony at Vinobha Navodaya Colonyrevenue area in Khammam urban mandal on Thursday and spoke to residents whose houses built on Bhoodan lands were demolished, making them homeless. He also visited the families lodged at a function hall in Khammam.

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He was accompanied by party district president MLC Tata Madhusudhan, MP Vaddiraju Ravichandra, former minister Puvvada Ajay Kumar, party Kothagudem district president Rega Kantha Rao, senior leaders RS Praveen Kumar, Gundala Krishna and others. A large number of residents poured out their grievances and explained to the BRS leader the injustice done to them by the Congress government. Many of the residents broke down while narrating how they were made homeless overnight and thrown onto the streets.

A degree student explained that her family had lived in the colony since she was a Class 4 student. Nearly 4,000 police and revenue officials raided the colony as if it were a war against enemies, she said, adding that they would not go anywhere and would stay in the colony. Several showed their land documents, property tax receipts and DDs paid for electricity connections while grieving over their loss. Rama Rao, who gave a patient hearing to their woes, told them to be brave and united as the BRS would fight for their rights.

Several families speaking to the media alleged that the police tried to send them away from the demolition site in view of Rama Rao’s visit. Police also threatened them against speaking about the government during his visit and even warned them that cases would be booked against them if they did so.

The affected families continued their tirade against district ministers Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and Thummala Nageswara Rao for their loss. A fitting lesson would be taught to the ministers as well as Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, they warned.