Hyderabad: TRS leaders slammed TPCC president A Revanth Reddy for his allegations over the land auctions in Kokapet and questioned as to what stopped the latter from participating in the auction if he felt the lands were being sold at cheap rates. They advised other Congress leaders to restrain him from resorting to blackmail tactics, if the party wants to survive in State politics.
Addressing a press conference at Telangana Bhavan here on Sunday, TRS general secretary Bodakunti Venkateshwarlu pointed out that the tenders for Kokapet lands were handled by a Central government agency and the auction was conducting online. Such a tender procedure has been adopted not only by Telangana, but also other States in the country. “If he felt these lands were being sold cheap, who stopped Revanth Reddy from quoting and purchasing Rs 100 crore per acre. The real estate boom in Hyderabad cannot be seen even in other metros like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Kolkata,” Venkateshwarlu pointed out.
He recalled that the then YS Rajasekhar Reddy government had set a minimum price of Rs 7 to 14 crore while auctioning government lands in Hyderabad in erstwhile Andhra Pradesh. He stated that TRS had opposed sale of the government lands in Hyderabad during the Congress regime in erstwhile Andhra Pradesh as the revenue accrued from Telangana region was spent for development in the Andhra region.
Further, he advised the TPCC president to refrain from making derogatory remarks against the government. He said the government had conducted the online auction in a transparent manner and urged the Opposition not to tarnish Hyderabad’s brand image through their irresponsible statements.
TRS general secretary and former MLC M Srinivas Reddy termed Revanth Reddy as brand ambassador for blackmailing and corruption king, whose attitude has not changed even after becoming the TPCC president. He said due to the irresponsible behaviour of Revanth Reddy, the Congress which could secure a seat or two in next Assembly elections, might have to lose them as well. He pointed out that Rajapushpa and other companies which have successfully bid for the Kokapet lands were leading real estate companies even before the State formation.