The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) delegation on Monday submitted a memorandum to the Telangana Governor, demanding the immediate removal of State Revenue and Housing Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, pending investigation into allegations of illegal mining and encroachment at his construction company.
The delegation to Lok Bhavan was led by party working president KT Rama Rao (KTR).
The delegation alleged that Raghava Construction, owned by Srinivas Reddy, carried out mining activity in the restricted catchment areas of the twin reservoirs on the outskirts of Hyderabad without obtaining mandatory approvals, including mining licences, pollution permits and power permissions, causing huge losses to the state exchequer.
“The BRS has sought either the formation of a House Committee comprising representatives of all political parties
“Or an investigation by a Supreme Court judge into the alleged illegal mining and land grabbing by Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy-owned Raghava Constructions,” KTR later told reporters.
He added that a fair investigation would not be possible as long as Srinivas Reddy continued in office.
He also accused Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy of protecting the minister and going back on his assurances of an investigation, adding that the BRS has no confidence in state agencies like the CID, saying the investigation will not be impartial as the Prime Minister also holds the home portfolio.
Meanwhile, the case sparked tumultuous scenes in the Legislative Council, where BRS members staged a protest to demand action against the minister. MLCs raising slogans rushed to the President’s dais, disrupting the proceedings.
Responding to the protest, Minister of State for Information Technology and Industries Dr. Sridhar Babu said the Chief Minister had already made it clear in the Assembly that a CID probe would be ordered into the matter and appealed to the BRS members to allow the House to function smoothly.
Despite repeated appeals from Council Speaker Gutta Sukander Reddy to maintain order and preserve the dignity of the Council, BRS members continued their protest. The government then moved a resolution demanding their suspension, and the President suspended the protesting MLCs for the rest of the day.
Those arrested include Madhusudanachari, Ravindra Rao, Deshapati Srinivas, L Ramana, Yadava Reddy, Sonkari Raju, Naveen Kumar Reddy, Madhusudan, Vani Devi, Pochampalli Srinivas Reddy and M Kuthireddy.
Before the proceedings began, BRS MLCs also held a protest over the issue at Gun Park
Srinivas Reddy was not available for comment while campaigning for Congress in Kerala.
