Hyderabad, Sept.28 (NSS): In a strong show of solidarity, former Minister and Siddipet MLA Harish Rao, has pledged his unwavering support to the victims of the Musi Beautification Project, who are now facing the threat of losing their homes.
Speaking at Telangana Bhavan, Harish Rao assured the affected families that the BRS party would stand by them in this challenging time, taking aim at TPCC president Revanth Reddy’s stance and calling on Rahul Gandhi to intervene.
Harish Rao’s Statements: “I feel immense sorrow hearing your stories,” Harish Rao began, addressing the crowd with empathy. “BRS MLAs will come to your area and stand by your side. Is Revanth Reddy giving his brother 45 days to respond to a notice, while bulldozers are being sent overnight to demolish the homes of the poor? Is this the justice he stands for?” He also highlighted the plight of the victims, pointing out that many had legally purchased their lands, completed proper registrations, and built their homes through bank loans. “Back in 1993, it was the Congress government that granted permissions. Now, the very same Congress is unjustly demolishing these structures,” he noted, expressing his disbelief at the inconsistency.
He asked Revanth Reddy, “What great work are you doing with this so-called beautification? KCR’s Mission Bhagiratha brought water to every household, truly benefiting the people. The Kaleshwaram project provided irrigation and drinking water, uplifting lakhs of farmers. But here, you are trying to bring tears and suffering to the poor and middle-class families in the name of the Musi project.”
Harish Rao also directed a strong message to Rahul Gandhi, urging him to intervene in what he termed a ‘bulldozer regime’ in Telangana. “Rahul Gandhi, before delivering your bulldozer speeches across the country, stops this bulldozer rule in Telangana. Listen to the voices of the people here before preaching elsewhere.”
He called on Revanth Reddy to hold an all-party meeting and take everyone’s opinions into account before proceeding with the Musi project. “Fulfil the promises you made during the elections first. Don’t indulge in theatrics under the guise of ‘beautification,’” he added sharply.
BRS’s stand and assurance: A dedicated team of BRS lawyers will be stationed round-the-clock at Telangana Bhavan to assist the victims. This move underscores the party’s commitment to safeguarding the rights of those affected; BRS MLAs will actively work to support and protect the families facing demolition, ensuring that justice prevails; BRS promises to be a protective shield for all those affected, providing them with the assurance that their voices will be heard.
The governments initially claimed there were 10,000 illegal structures, but is now preparing to demolish 25,000 houses. Harish Rao reassured the victims, “We will fight to make sure justice is served. Don’t lose hope. Whenever you need us, just call, and we will be there.”
Victims Voice & Their Anguish: The affected families shared their heartbreaking stories with Harish Rao. One distressed victim revealed, “We spent every rupee we earned to build our home. Now, seeing it being demolished is something we simply cannot endure. We are terrified, and we don’t know whom to turn to.” Another victim tearfully added, “We borrowed lakhs from banks to construct our homes. Now, they are being demolished, and we fear our children will end up on the streets. We live in constant fear of what might happen tomorrow.”
Harish Rao, visibly moved, reassured them, stating, “The government cannot betray its people. Development should not come at the cost of innocent lives.”
