Hyderabad: BRS Legislature Party deputy leader T Harish Rao has challenged Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy to order a judicial inquiry by a sitting Supreme Court or High Court judge into the Bhu Bharati and 22-A prohibited land controversies.
Harish Rao made the demand while responding to the Chief Minister’s statements on the 22-A land issue. He said the BRS was prepared to face scrutiny of decisions taken during its tenure and sought the same level of scrutiny for the present Congress government. The demand for a judicial probe and a white paper on the 22-A list has also been raised by the BRS previously.
Demand for white paper on 22-A list
Harish Rao questioned the inclusion of entire survey numbers in the prohibited list when only portions of properties were allegedly subject to disputes. He asked the government to publish a white paper showing the extent of land added to and removed from the 22-A list after December 7, 2023.
He also questioned differing statements from the government over changes to the prohibited list and sought district-wise details of properties that had been added or removed.
The BRS leader argued that forming committees and issuing fresh guidelines would not by themselves provide immediate relief to property owners affected by the restrictions. The party has previously demanded that genuine private properties be removed from the prohibited list and that the government disclose the full list and reasons for additions and removals.
Questions over land registrations
Harish Rao also raised allegations concerning the Bhu Bharati land records system. He referred to claims of registrations allegedly carried out without the knowledge of property owners and sought explanations over specific land transactions and alleged irregularities.
He also raised questions about alleged irregularities in the Jangaon stamp duty and Nadergul land cases. These claims were made by Harish Rao and have not been established as findings by an independent inquiry.
Claims over properties of political leaders
Harish Rao rejected allegations concerning his own agricultural properties, saying details had been disclosed in his election affidavit and income-tax returns.
He also challenged Revanth Reddy to order an inquiry into allegations made by the BRS regarding properties allegedly owned by the Chief Minister and his family. These are political allegations and would require verification through official records or an independent investigation.
The issue has become part of a wider political dispute between the ruling Congress and the BRS over land records and the Section 22-A prohibited list. Revanth Reddy has separately defended the government’s handling of the issue and announced measures aimed at addressing land-registration problems.
BRS raises Assembly suspension issue
Harish Rao also criticised the suspension of BRS legislators from the Assembly. He alleged that the suspensions prevented the Opposition from raising questions on the government’s policies and the implementation of its electoral promises.
He said BRS legislators were prepared to return to the Assembly if their suspension was lifted and challenged the government to allow them to participate in the proceedings.
The BRS leader also criticised the government’s explanation for the suspensions, including the issue of legislators wearing black T-shirts with slogans inside the Assembly.
The 22-A land controversy remains a major political issue in Telangana, with the BRS demanding an independent inquiry and detailed disclosure of changes to the prohibited list, while the state government has proposed committees, verification procedures and new mechanisms for resolving eligible land-registration cases.
