Visakhapatnam, 29 May 2024 - At a press conference held at the BJP office in Visakhapatnam, AP BJP Chief Spokesperson Lanka Dinakar voiced serious allegations against the YSRCP government led by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. Dinakar accused Jagan's close aides of rampant land grabbing and resource exploitation, which he claims has severely impacted the future of Andhra Pradesh and the lives of its people.

Land Grabbing: A Dual Threat

In the last five years, Dinakar highlighted, land grabbing in the state has manifested in two primary ways. First, land has been seized under the guise of various projects. Second, regional leaders of the YSRCP have allegedly instigated land grabs through intimidation, acquiring land at low prices, and entering into illegal development agreements. Dinakar called for the incoming government to conduct prompt investigations and punish those responsible for these activities.

Power Projects and Land Looting

Dinakar specifically accused Jagan's close aides of orchestrating a massive land grab under the pretense of developing power projects. According to Dinakar, plans were made to seize around four lakh acres for wind and solar power projects. He alleged that Jagan conspired with Shirdi Sai Electricals and Indo Solar companies to facilitate these land grabs, with a quid pro quo arrangement between Jagan and company promoter Visvesvara Reddy.

In the general elections, Dinakar claimed that YSRCP candidates received thousands of crores from Shirdi Sai Electricals' head Vishweshwar Reddy. Further, Axis Energy Infrastructure Pvt Ltd was implicated in illegitimate acts, leading to the cancellation of a 794.90 MW power project by the ERC.

Questionable Allocations and Corruption

Dinakar raised doubts about the allocation of large-scale projects to inexperienced companies without investment capacity. He suggested that a thorough examination of MoUs and land deeds would reveal significant corruption. Investments in these companies were allegedly funded by resources acquired through the liquor and sand mafia, and there are suspicions that these projects were intended to be sold to international companies.

He also accused Jagan's government of transferring land parcels to his aides in the name of power projects in the lead-up to the elections. The allegations extend to a pumped storage power project in Kurnool district, illicitly allotted to Green Co, and other projects tied to Mega Engineering.

Land Mafia in Vizag and Uttar Andhra

Dinakar pointed to numerous scandals involving land mafia activities in Vizag and Uttar Andhra. He accused local YSRCP leaders, including MPs, MLAs, and nominated officials, of colluding with gangsters to encourage land mafia activities. Flights from Kadapa to Visakhapatnam were allegedly used for these acquisitions.

Residents of Visakhapatnam reported that YSRCP leaders have been forcibly acquiring sea-facing coastal lands and commercial buildings at minimal prices. Middle-class families around Visakhapatnam have been pressured to sell their lands at low prices. There are allegations of significant land development deals where the state ministers and public representatives have unfairly taken major shares of the developed land value.

Urgent Call for Investigation

Dinakar emphasized the need for a new government to investigate and take strict action against the corrupt individuals and institutions involved in these land and power project scams. He specifically called for a special task force to address the land grabbing issues in Visakhapatnam and Uttar Andhra.

He concluded by affirming that the BJP will stand against the land mafia in Visakhapatnam and fight for justice for the people affected by these illegal activities.

Lanka Dinakar's press conference highlighted serious allegations of corruption and exploitation under the YSRCP government, particularly focusing on land grabbing and misuse of state resources. The call for a thorough investigation and the establishment of a special task force underscore the urgency and severity of these claims. As the state awaits the formation of a new government, these issues will undoubtedly remain at the forefront of political and public discourse.