BRS accuses Congress MP of encroaching on SC students’ land

Hyderabad: BRS state general secretary RS Praveen Kumar accused Congress MP Porika Balaram Naik of attempting to encroach on 4.13 acres of land in Serilingampally earmarked for poor SC students. He said the property was worth nearly Rs 1,000 crore. He demanded that the government reclaim the land and restore it to the Social Welfare Department within 15 days, warning of a massive agitation.

He alleged that Minister Adluri Laxman Kumar was supporting the encroachment. He questioned the government’s inaction despite having HYDRAA, the Revenue Department and the Vigilance Department at its disposal.

Praveen Kumar said the land was identified in 2013 for a Teacher Capacity Building Centre and a Social Welfare residential school under the SC Sub-Plan. The previous BRS government sanctioned Rs 31 crore in 2014. In 2016, proposals were also prepared for a 15-storey Centre of Excellence to equip poor students with skills for overseas employment, he said.

Alleging that Balaram Naik and his son were facilitating unauthorised occupation through huts and construction, he recalled that he had refused to support an earlier attempt by the MP to claim the property during his tenure as secretary of the Telangana Social Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society. Despite repeated representations to the Chief Secretary, no action had been taken, he alleged. He demanded that the authorities remove the unauthorised structures, put up official signboards and protect the land.

Praveen Kumar warned that the BRS would mobilise thousands of people to protect the property and lay siege to the Social Welfare Department if it was not reclaimed within 15 days. He said the land was intended to provide SC students with access to advanced skills and opportunities beyond traditional occupations.

He also condemned the alleged attack on Dalit Christians in Almasguda and the lathi-charge on BRS leaders at Meerpet police station, demanding protection of minority rights.