In a recent press conference held in Visakhapatnam, opposition leader of the Legislative Council, Botsa Satyanarayana, made serious allegations against the family members of former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, claiming they are involved in a land scam worth ₹5,000 crores. He emphasized that the transfer of government land to private individuals contradicts Supreme Court rulings, raising questions about the integrity of MP Bharat, who holds constitutional office, and how he could engage in such land grabbing activities.
Botsa elaborated on the issue, stating that the land transfer topic has been included as the 15th item on the agenda of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) council meeting scheduled for Thursday. He mentioned that a petition has been submitted to the mayor and relevant authorities urging them to halt the land scam, highlighting the illegality of transferring government land to private parties.
During his address, Botsa announced plans to visit the GITAM University, where land valued at ₹5,000 crores is allegedly under illegal occupation. He urged the public to join him in a protest against this land grab on the 30th of this month, coinciding with a rally in front of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi. Botsa insisted that both Jana Sena and the BJP must respond to the land scam in Visakhapatnam, pressing them to demonstrate urgency in protecting the valuable land.
Criticizing actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan, Botsa questioned why the leader is silent on the issue of land grabbing in Visakhapatnam despite frequently discussing moral and ethical topics. He pointed out the absurdity of the government’s efforts to regularize small land plots while larger parcels, such as 55 acres, are being manipulated without public accountability. He promised to collaborate with leftist groups and other parties to protest against what he termed a ‘looting’ of public resources by private educational institutions.
Furthermore, K.K. Raju, the president of the YSR Congress in Visakhapatnam, also criticized the allocation of ₹5,000 crores worth of land to GITAM University by those currently in power. He labeled the land transfer as an injustice and deemed the allocation of 55 acres to MP Bharat as undemocratic. Raju condemned the current administration for handing over lands to real estate firms like they were mere commodities, and warned that after the coalition came to power, they allocated 30,000 crores worth of land to their favored entities.
In an urgent call to action, Raju emphasized the need for intellectuals and scholars to scrutinize the ongoing land grabs in Visakhapatnam, accusing the ruling party of showing favoritism to select individuals while neglecting the rights of the broader community. These developments are stirring significant controversy in the region, as citizens are urged to stay vigilant against what they perceive as rampant corruption and misuse of power.
The unfolding situation highlights the complexities of land ownership and governance in India, as various political factions clash over the legitimacy of land deals and the ethical implications of such transactions. As the council meeting approaches, the eyes of the public remain on the authorities to see how they will respond to these grave allegations and the growing calls for accountability.
