Jana Sena Party president and Andhra Pradesh deputy chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Tuesday assured that the government would stand by the victims affected by the land acquisition for Saraswati Power Industries, which is owned by the family of YSR Congress party (YSRCP) president and former chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Pawan Kalyan visited the lands of Saraswati power plant in Vemavaram and Chennayapalem villages, located in the Machavaram mandal of Palnadu district.
The deputy chief minister recalled that the Saraswati Power Project was founded during the Y S Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR) government.
He pointed out that around 400 acres of forest land in the area had been converted into revenue land and taken over by the project.
He said that in 2009, these lands were leased for 30 years, and then the lease was extended for another 50 years. The promise made was to set up industries and provide employment, but instead, the land was sold.
He accused the YSRCP leaders of pressuring people and farmers to sell the land, even against their will.
He alleged that the people were subjected to severe pressure to sell the land and were even intimidated by the use of petrol bombs.
He recalled how former Andhra Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kodela Shivaprasad Rao was tortured and ultimately killed.
“The man who tortured Kodela, particularly regarding furniture, was the one who took over the land in the name of the power plant,” he alleged.
The Deputy CM also highlighted that 24 acres of land, which belonged to SC (Scheduled Caste) families, were forcibly taken. Out of the land taken, 20 acres were located in Vemavaram itself.
He sarcastically remarked that the family, which had taken the land, was now treating it like their private property, fighting among themselves over it.
Pawan Kalyan asserted that natural resources do not belong to any individual or family. He also pointed out that even the senior police officers had become soft in their approach.
"Otherwise, are they also afraid?" he questioned.