Date:19/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/19/stories/2006121916580100.htm

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Resignation demand turned down

Special Correspondent

The surrender of assigned lands issue rocks Assembly again

HYDERABAD: The Government turned down the Opposition's vociferous demand for the resignation and prosecution of Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy for having admitted to holding assigned lands in the Assembly on Monday, saying there was no such provision in the laws.

For the third consecutive day, the Assembly was rocked by the issue of the surrender of assigned lands (to the poor) by the Chief Minister with the treasury benches and the Opposition indulging in acrimonious exchanges and slogan-shouting.

In fact, the debate ended noisily as it began three days ago with Speaker K. R. Suresh Reddy adjourning the House abruptly with placard-wielding Telugu Desam Party members rushing to the podium and raising slogans against the Chief Minister. They were objecting to Congress member T. Jeevan Reddy's comment against Leader of the Opposition N. Chandrababu Naidu.

Intervening during the debate, Dr. Reddy admitted to his family-owned company holding another chunk of over 900 acres of non-agriculture land in Konduru near Rajampet in Kadapa district. "I do not want to hide anything," he said. Barring this, the Government threw no new light on the controversy even after a marathon five-hour debate.

Both stick to stand

Both the Government and the Opposition refused to budge from their known stands. The latter's demand for constituting an all -party committee to visit Idupulapaya in Kadapa, where Dr. Reddy's family held this assigned land, fell through. The Government stuck to its view that the surrender of assigned land by the Chief Minister was part of a strategy to bring out all such lands and distribute them to the poor. But the Opposition remained unconvinced wondering how the Chief Minister could be absolved after his confession that he had indeed violated the laws.

The only concession shown by Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy was to despatch a two-member semi-official committee to survey his and other lands in Idupulapaya in Kadapa district in a week's time. He said it could comprise either of the two senior IAS officers-- S. V. Prasad "who had served under you (TDP)" and Raghottam Rao-- and M. Sambasiva Rao (a former IAS officer), who is President of Heritage Foods owned by the family of Leader of the Opposition N. Chandrababu Naidu.

Dr. Reddy's offer came in response to the TDP members'allegation that he owned more than 3000 acres and to the way they displayed huge photograph of the aerial view of the land owned by him and his family in Idupulapaya. He went on to invite the floor leaders not as a committee, but to have dinner with him for Christmas as he would be camping there to celebrate the festival.

Naidu's charge

On his part, Mr. Naidu said Dr. Reddy was guilty of violating seven laws from the AP Land Reforms Act to AP Panchayat Raj Act besides changing the extent of his land holding frequently and his statements. "He has no right to continue as he has violated the Constitutional oath he has taken."

Dr. Reddy took pot shots at the opposition parties turn by turn and berated Mr. Naidu for not ordering a single CBI inquiry during his nine-year rule. Quoting the assigned lands law, he said there was no provision for prosecution if the land was surrendered in good faith.