BRS Threatens Siege, Assembly Stall Over Telangana Land Listing Row

The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has escalated its confrontation with the Telangana government over the Section 22A prohibited lands list, with senior leader T Harish Rao threatening to lay siege to the Secretariat and stall the forthcoming Assembly session unless the government removes lakhs of properties from the list. The warning came during a meeting organised by the party in Boduppal in support of affected residents, as reported by Deccan Chronicle and The New Indian Express.

Rao, a former minister and BRS deputy floor leader, alleged that the listing under Section 22A of the Registration Act, which restricts transactions involving government, assigned, endowment, Waqf and surplus land, as well as properties under legal dispute, had caused widespread confusion among property owners. He claimed that entire colonies and large numbers of properties had been added, including fully registered houses, and that middle-class families were unable to obtain bank loans or sell their homes because they appeared on the list. Residents, he said, complained that properties offered as collateral for education, marriage or emergencies were being rejected.

Rao also alleged that the government had removed the list from the Bhu Bharati portal overnight and demanded that the complete list be restored and placed in the public domain. He claimed that around 40 lakh acres across Telangana were included in the prohibited list, a figure that appeared in multiple accounts. He further alleged that even the Ameenpur police station building and government lands, including the airport and Outer Ring Road, had been listed, and that houses constructed 20 years ago in Srinagar Colony were also included. He questioned why ordinary homeowners were being forced to visit government offices to correct errors committed by officials, and demanded that the government itself remove affected properties without burdening the public.

According to The New Indian Express, Rao claimed that even Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy's house was included in the list, and accused the CM and Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy of promoting real-estate interests. He alleged that several lands were kept in the prohibited list for the sake of 30% commissions, and questioned why Rahul Gandhi was silent while the CM and minister were "doing real estate business." He described Section 22A as "a weapon for the government" and demanded a thorough probe and a white paper on the prohibition list, including details from December 2023 onwards. He also alleged that the government had stopped implementing schemes such as Rythu Bima, Kalyan Lakshmi and fee reimbursement, and accused ministers of evading accountability by blaming officials, comparing the government to "a circus company."

Union Minister Demands Judicial Inquiry

Union Minister G Kishan Reddy has demanded a judicial inquiry into the Section 22A issue, stressing the need for an independent examination and transparency. Speaking to the media in Hyderabad, he said the matter should be investigated thoroughly, as reported by ANI. He also reacted to the denial of permission for Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's visit to the United States, saying the issue should not be politicised. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) clarified that his visit was not considered appropriate "to the office held and the purpose of the visit," and therefore political clearance was not granted.

Polytechnic Merger Opposition

Rao also opposed the proposed merger of polytechnic colleges with Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), demanding the cancellation of GO 97. Speaking at a dharna organised by polytechnic students at Rajagopalpet, he said polytechnic education should continue independently and students should retain direct admission to second-year engineering courses. He stated that nearly 95% of polytechnic students come from poor families, that the institutions have a seven-decade history, and that many diploma holders are working abroad. He accused the government of making a unilateral decision without consulting students or experts, criticised the Chief Minister for not addressing students' concerns, and vowed to raise the issue in the Assembly.

Perspectives

  • BRS (T Harish Rao and party leaders): The Section 22A list is arbitrary and harmful, causing confusion and financial distress among property owners. The government is allegedly using the law to target citizens, promote real-estate interests, and evade accountability. The party demands immediate removal of the listed properties, a public white paper, and a thorough probe. It also opposes the polytechnic merger.
  • Union Minister G Kishan Reddy (BJP): Calls for a judicial inquiry and transparency, but cautions against politicising the issue, particularly the denial of the CM's US visit.
  • Government of India (MEA): Clarifies that political clearance for CM Revanth Reddy's US visit was denied because the visit was not considered appropriate to the office held and the purpose of the visit.
  • Telangana Government (Congress): The reports do not include a direct response from the state government to the allegations. However, according to the reports, ministers have blamed officials for the issues concerning prohibited lands and the non-implementation of the Kalyan Lakshmi scheme, a stance Rao criticised.