Harish Rao accuses Congress government of misusing Section 22-A, demands white paper

BRS Deputy Floor Leader T Harish Rao accused the Telangana government of misusing Section 22-A to place properties under the prohibited list and demanded a white paper on land additions since December 7, 2023, besides criticising Kalyana Lakshmi implementation.

Hyderabad: Accusing the Revanth Reddy government of turning Section 22-A into a tool of harassment and corruption, BRS Deputy Floor Leader T Harish Rao demanded that the Congress government release a white paper on all lands added to the prohibited list since December 7, 2023.

Harish Rao alleged that the government was placing properties under Section 22-A without proper verification. Properties that had long been cleared under the Urban Land Ceiling Act were now being brought back under the prohibited list, he said during an informal interaction with media persons here on Monday.

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Harish Rao pointed out that the Urban Land Ceiling Act had been repealed across the country in 1999. He said the then Andhra Pradesh government, headed by Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, had withdrawn the applicability of the law in the State in 2008.

“When lands were already cleared from the ceiling restrictions, on what basis is this government once again bringing them under Section 22-A? This exposes the government’s lack of understanding and administrative control,” he asked.

He questioned the decision to include properties in Survey Nos. 8 and 9 of Srinagar Colony, where residents had been living for decades. He said even apartment flats purchased around 30 years ago were being subjected to Section 22-A restrictions, leaving ordinary citizens uncertain about the future of their properties.

He said properties that had earlier received official NOCs from the government and against which banks had sanctioned loans were now being placed under Section 22-A. This was creating difficulties for both property owners and financial institutions, he said.

He also questioned the inclusion of established areas such as Banjara Hills Housing Society in the prohibited list.

The former Minister said the issue had reached a point where even the residence of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy was reportedly reflected in the Section 22-A prohibited list.

“When the problem reached the Chief Minister’s own doorstep, the government suddenly woke up. Does the government need to face the same problem personally before understanding the suffering of ordinary citizens?” he asked.

Harish Rao also criticised the Congress government over the implementation of the Kalyana Lakshmi scheme. He alleged that the scheme had been deliberately weakened even before the recent court proceedings and said the government was now attempting to blame the court for its own failure.

Harish Rao questioned why the number of beneficiaries had fallen despite population growth and increasing demand. He alleged that more than one lakh applications were pending and said families were struggling to receive assistance even after marriages had taken place.

Harish Rao also criticised what he described as the concentration of power within a small circle around the Chief Minister. He alleged that the government was functioning for the benefit of a select group rather than all sections of society.

He said that whenever he raised questions backed by documents and figures about the government’s alleged failures and irregularities, the Chief Minister resorted to personal attacks instead of answering them.

“Every few months, some new allegation or campaign is launched against me because the government cannot answer the questions I raise. Political criticism is part of democracy, but personal attacks cannot substitute for answers,” Harish Rao said.

“If the Chief Minister has the courage, he should take my name and make the allegation directly. I am ready to send a legal notice immediately. He should not make indirect allegations and hide behind vague statements,” Harish Rao said.

Harish Rao said the Congress government’s attempts to malign him would not weaken his political commitment or his fight for Telangana.