KTR assures Khammam oustees of legal fight, reconstruction after BRS returns to power

BRS working president KT Rama Rao visited Velugumatla Nagar, Khammam, to console families whose homes were demolished. He vowed legal support, promised reconstruction at the same location, and accused the Congress government of targeting the poor

Khammam: BRS working president KT Rama Rao on Thursday stood by families whose houses were demolished in Velugumatla Nagar’s Bhoodan lands in Khammam, stating that the Congress government was targeting the poor under the guise of Indiramma’s Rajyam. Assuring the families that the party would continue to fight until justice was delivered, he vowed to reconstruct their homes at the same location once the BRS returned to power.

“Do not get disheartened. It is my responsibility to build houses again for all of you in the same place and ensure your homecoming after we return to power,” he assured the oustees, amid loud applause from locals.

Visiting the affected site, Rama Rao examined pattas, Bhoodan Board documents and court papers produced by residents. He spent more than an hour interacting with the victims as he walked through the debris left behind following the demolition taken up by the officials over the last two days.

He promised that the BRS would raise the issue in the Legislative Assembly and Council and, if required, move the Supreme Court. “You need not spend a rupee. The party will provide full legal support and fight this battle on your behalf,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, the BRS working president said nearly 150 houses were razed without due notice despite valid documentation. He called the demolitions inhumane and said transferring a Revenue Divisional Officer was not enough to fix accountability. He cautioned that senior Congress Ministers representing Khammam district were attempting to divide the nearly 900 affected families and urged residents to remain united.

He challenged Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Ministers Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and Tummala Nageswara Rao to visit the site if the government had committed no wrongdoing. “If no mistake was made, why was the RDO transferred immediately?” he asked.

Rama Rao asserted that the Congress government had no right to demolish the houses of the poor living in Velugumatla Nagar. Around 62 acres of land was handed over by two families to Bhoodan Board in 1950s. “In April 2014, the then Andhra Pradesh government allotted around 100 square yards each to around 1,895 families from Bhoodan Board towards housing. Land pattas were also distributed to all families which is still in force,” he pointed out.

The BRS leader also stated that the demolitions were driven by vested interests eyeing prime land and questioned the need for demolitions by the government even during late night with deployment of nearly 4,000 police personnel. He said similar actions against houses of persons with disabilities in Mahabubnagar pointed to a pattern.

“BRS president and former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao always stood by the poor. We are here on his behalf, with his assurance that the BRS will stand by you,” he asserted, urging the oustees to stay united.