Hyderabad, Mar 25 (UNI) Opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) members today alleged valuable government land had been allotted to organisations owned by a Congress MP in the name of newspapers that have been closed long ago.
Raising the issue during Question Hour, P Keshav, E Dayakara Rao and Ch Rajeswara Rao of the TDP alleged that land worth Rs 700 crore was allotted to organisations floated by a Congress MP in the name of 'Andhra Patrika' and 'Udayam' newspapers, which were closed long ago. They demanded the government to take back the land.
Denying the charge, Revenue Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao said land was provided to these newspapers 12 years ago. When government cancelled allotment after the papers were closed, the organisations appealed to the High Court and the Supreme Court and won the case.
When the court direction was not followed, they moved a contempt petition, forcing the government to hand over the land.
He said four organisations were given the land and they were asked by the collector to enter into an MoU with the government. If they signed the agreement, conditions would be imposed and if they were not met, the land would be retrieved, the Minister said.
As the parties had not come forward to sign the MoU, two notices have already been served to them and a reply has been received, he added.
The government had given land not only to these two papers but also to Andhra Jyothi.
Disputing the Minister's statement, Mr Keshav said while Andhra Jyothi was one of the largest circulated dailies, the two closed papers were given land only to favour a Congress MP.
The Minister asked the TDP how it gave 1,000 acre to IMG Bharat when the party was in power for development of sporting activity, when it had no experience in the said field.
UNI JRK AA AK RK1515
Raising the issue during Question Hour, P Keshav, E Dayakara Rao and Ch Rajeswara Rao of the TDP alleged that land worth Rs 700 crore was allotted to organisations floated by a Congress MP in the name of 'Andhra Patrika' and 'Udayam' newspapers, which were closed long ago. They demanded the government to take back the land.
Denying the charge, Revenue Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao said land was provided to these newspapers 12 years ago. When government cancelled allotment after the papers were closed, the organisations appealed to the High Court and the Supreme Court and won the case.
When the court direction was not followed, they moved a contempt petition, forcing the government to hand over the land.
He said four organisations were given the land and they were asked by the collector to enter into an MoU with the government. If they signed the agreement, conditions would be imposed and if they were not met, the land would be retrieved, the Minister said.
As the parties had not come forward to sign the MoU, two notices have already been served to them and a reply has been received, he added.
The government had given land not only to these two papers but also to Andhra Jyothi.
Disputing the Minister's statement, Mr Keshav said while Andhra Jyothi was one of the largest circulated dailies, the two closed papers were given land only to favour a Congress MP.
The Minister asked the TDP how it gave 1,000 acre to IMG Bharat when the party was in power for development of sporting activity, when it had no experience in the said field.
UNI JRK AA AK RK1515
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