KTR tears into Bulldozer Raj by Revanth Reddy government, calls for unity among Musi oustees
BRS working president KT Rama Rao launched a sharp attack on the Congress government in Telangana, accusing it of running a "Bulldozer Raj" by displacing thousands of families under the Musi Riverfront project. Leading a protest march with affected residents, he alleged that the demolitions were part of a massive real estate scam.
Hyderabad: BRS working president KT Rama Rao mounted a frontal attack on the Congress government, stating that it was running a Bulldozer Raj in Telangana and displacing thousands of families in the name of the Musi riverfront project. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy had made demolitions and real estate dealings the hallmark of his administration, turning the government into a real estate enterprise, he said.
Rama Rao led a 3.5-km ‘Musi Dandi March‘ with affected residents of Rajendranagar including families from Hyder Shah Kote and Madhu Park Ridge apartments who are facing eviction along the Musi riverfront on Sunday. He interacted with the residents, consoled them and assured all support on behalf of BRS in their fight for justice.
Speaking on the occasion, the BRS working president said thousands of houses were being marked for demolition to clear the ground for a mega scam in the name of Musi Riverfront beautification. The government’s only visible agenda since assuming office was the demolition of houses, sale of land and brokering real estate deals.
“From the day Revanth Reddy took office, it has been bulldozers, not development,” he said, adding that houses were being razed and lands cleared to facilitate a massive scam under the guise of Musi River rejuvenation project.
Rama Rao stated that the government was destroying the homes of the poor to benefit contractors and associates. Stating that the government was forcing evacuations despite repeated pleas from residents, including families with infants and elderly members, he said threats and inducements were being used to break the resistance of affected families.
Calling for unity among the displaced families, the former Municipal Minister urged them to resist pressure and remain united for the next two years. Reminding that BRS chief and former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao fought for 14 years to achieve the State of Telangana, he urged people to fight for two years to safeguard their homes.
“Protect your homes and lands. When our government returns under KCR’s leadership, we will ensure that not a single house is touched,” Rama Rao said, assuring full political and legal support to the oustees in their fight. He questioned the moral basis of demolitions when the same Congress government had earlier granted permissions for several of the affected apartment complexes.
He dared the Chief Minister to prove that even one house was constructed for the poor in Hyderabad under the present Congress regime. “If Revanth Reddy has built a single home for the poor instead of demolishing them, I will quit politics,” he declared.
Drawing a contrast with the previous BRS government, the senior BRS leader said a Musi rejuvenation plan was prepared earlier at a cost of Rs 16,000 crore and even developed a five km stretch on Uppal-Nagole route, without displacing a single household.
“Now, in the name of a bigger project, they are destroying thousands of homes,” he said. He questioned the need for demolition of over 1.5 lakh homes within 50 metres on either side of the Musi River, calling it a land grab disguised as development.
He asserted that none of the people including BRS were not against development. “Unfortunately, the word development is being abused and misused. The government’s primary responsibility should be fulfilling the needs of the vulnerable and also ensuring public infrastructure for self-sustaining citizens. Instead, this Congress government adopted a different development model where the basic needs of shelter are being deprived to lakhs of families for construction of statues and beautification,” he added.
Rama Rao also questioned why properties belonging to Ministers and ruling party leaders located in FTLs (Full Tank Levels) of different water bodies were spared, while ordinary residents were targeted under buffer zone norms. “Charity begins at home. Revanth Reddy should first demolish his home in Kodangal which is in the FTL of the local tank. He should also demolish his brother Tirupati Reddy’s residence in the buffer zone of Durgam Cheruvu, before coming for homes of the poor and the middle-class,” he demanded.
He pointed out that while poor and middle-class families were being displaced, the Chief Minister was constructing an official residence at a reported cost of Rs 200 crore despite having existing accommodation, whose compound wall alone was being fortified with Rs 9 crore.
He took a swipe at the Congress high command, pointing out the irony of its Lok Sabha leader Rahul Gandhi criticising the BJP’s bulldozer politics nationally, while remaining silent on similar actions by his party’s government in Telangana.
Rama Rao gave a clarion call to all Hyderabadis, especially residents along the Musi Riverfront to come together and join the people’s movement to safeguard their homes. He called for their unity, without falling prey to intimidation tactics and monetary offers for settlements.
“Do not make the mistake of thinking that it is not your fight as this bulldozer will come to your doorstep. Do not fall prey to settlement offers or intimidation. BRS is always there to support you on the ground and also in the courts,” he declared.
