Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy Counters BRS Over Nadergul Land Row
In a forceful rebuttal, Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy on Wednesday dismissed allegations concerning his son's purported involvement in the Nadergul land controversy. He launched a strong counterattack against the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), asserting that all critical transactions related to the disputed land took place during the tenure of the previous BRS government.
Allegations of Political Motivation
Addressing the media at the secretariat alongside ministers Ponnam Prabhakar and Seethakka, Srinivas Reddy accused former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and ex-ministers KT Rama Rao and T Harish Rao of orchestrating a campaign of false allegations against him and his family. He threw down an open challenge, stating he would apologize if the BRS could substantiate its claims regarding the Nadergul lands.
The minister maintained that attempts to connect his family to both the Nadergul and Vattinagulapally land issues were baseless and politically motivated. He presented documents to support his position, emphasizing the long-standing legal history of the land.
Documentary Evidence Presented
Presenting detailed records, Srinivas Reddy explained, "The land in survey No. 613 of Nadergul village, spanning 373 acres, has been under litigation since 2004. Both private parties and the government have won cases at different times, leading to appeals in higher courts." He stressed that the crucial registrations and mutations were executed during the previous BRS regime.
The land was registered to three companies: United Landmarks Pvt Ltd, Alpha Estates, and Omega Development Ventures Pvt Ltd. "Wasn't it the BRS government that mutated these registration documents on September 24, 2016? Who was in power in 2014 and 2016? If mutations were done during the BRS regime, how is the Congress government connected to this?" he questioned pointedly.
Status of the Land and Legal Actions
Reiterating that the land remains under the 22 A Prohibition List, the minister asserted that its status has not been altered by the current Congress government. Responding directly to allegations involving his son, he stated, "My son is not a partner in any of the three companies. I challenge them to prove it. I will take legal action against these false allegations."
Highlighting the timeline of developments, Srinivas Reddy noted that there were no structures on the land as of February 2021. However, sheds emerged by December 2021 and were completed by November 2022, while the BRS was still in power. He also flagged that though a Special Leave Petition (SLP) was claimed to have been filed in 2022, no counter was submitted at that time. "It was the Congress government that filed a counter in March 2015," he clarified.
Broader Implications
This confrontation underscores the intense political rivalry in Telangana, with land disputes becoming a focal point for allegations and counter-allegations. The minister's detailed presentation aims to shift scrutiny back to the actions of the previous administration, challenging the BRS to provide concrete evidence for their claims.
The ongoing controversy highlights the complexities of land governance and the political dimensions often intertwined with such issues in the state.
