In a significant political development, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Telangana has leveled serious allegations of corruption against the state government, centering on a flagship industrial policy. The party's state president, N Ramchander Rao, on Monday, claimed that the Hyderabad Industrial Land Transformation Policy (HILTP) is a front for a "major scam."
Delegation Meets Governor with Grievances
Accompanied by a high-level delegation including the party's floor leader, Alleti Maheshwar Reddy, and other senior figures, Rao visited Raj Bhavan to submit a formal complaint to Governor Jishnu Dev Varma. The delegation sought the Governor's intervention, presenting what they described as evidence of potential large-scale malfeasance linked to the government's land policy initiative.
Addressing the media after the meeting, Rao expressed profound concerns regarding the implementation of the HILTP. He alleged that the policy, instead of fostering industrial growth, has become a vehicle for widespread corruption, benefiting a select few at the expense of the state's resources and development goals.
Allegations of Astronomical Land Value Surge
The core of the BJP's accusation revolves around the dramatic appreciation of land values under the policy's purview. Rao pointed out a specific and startling claim: valuable land parcels, originally leased to industries at minimal rates, have now skyrocketed in value to an astonishing ₹100 crore per acre.
This immense surge, the BJP argues, raises serious questions about the transparency of land deals, allotments, and the potential for windfall gains that were not passed on to the public exchequer. The party insinuates that the policy framework may have been manipulated to allow undervalued land to be converted or sold, resulting in massive profits for private entities with political connections.
Political Repercussions and Demands
The allegations mark a sharp escalation in the opposition's attack on the ruling government in Telangana. By taking the matter directly to the Governor, the BJP has positioned it as an issue of constitutional and administrative propriety, demanding a thorough investigation into the policy's execution.
The party has called for immediate accountability and a probe into all transactions conducted under the HILTP. They have urged the Governor to use his authority to ensure that the alleged scam is uncovered and that those responsible are held accountable. This move is seen as part of a broader strategy to corner the state government on governance and corruption issues ahead of future electoral battles.
The Telangana government is yet to issue a detailed official response to these specific allegations. The controversy surrounding the HILTP is likely to dominate the political discourse in the state in the coming days, with the opposition promising to pursue the matter aggressively both inside and outside the legislative assembly.
