Andhra Pradesh   

`Many bigwigs have illegal landholdings in A.P.'

Special Correspondent

Names of Chandrababu Naidu,Venkaiah Naidu cited; officials' team to hold probe

HYDERABAD: Several political leaders, industry bigwigs and realtors are now being accused of illegally possessing land as the controversy triggered by the surrender of lands by Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy in his native Vempalli mandal in Kadapa district enlarged on Thursday.

According to Revenue Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao, the State Government is gearing up to serve prosecution notices on persons refusing to voluntarily surrender their illegal landholdings, particularly assigned lands. "The Government will treat such surrender as an act of good faith and not apply penal provisions," he told reporters.

The authorities estimate that the land that has gone into illegal possession around the State capital alone is valued at Rs. 20,000 crore. Though some of these "encroachers" could seek exemption from handing over the land under 18 (2) of the amended AP Land Reforms (Ceiling on Agricultural Holdings) Act, such indemnity is discretionary.

Pandora's box opened

A committee of three senior IAS officers was constituted by the Government on November 23 to inquire into the landholdings of Telugu Desam Party president N. Chandrababu Naidu in Madhapur, an area that houses the HI-TEC City. Mr. Naidu said this was the 23rd probe ordered against him by the present Government as part of its counter-offensive. A Congress member T. Jeevan Reddy virtually opened the Pandora's box in the Assembly by listing out the names of Mr. Chandrababu Naidu, former BJP president M. Venkaiah Naidu, TRS floor leader G. Vijayarama Rao and TDP MP C. Ramachandraiah as among those in illegal possession of land. The House witnessed uproarious scenes. As many as 43 opposition members were suspended when they obstructed question hour demanding a debate on Thursday. Ch. Rajeshwara Rao (TDP) spearheaded the Opposition attack demanding that Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy step down on grounds of propriety.

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