Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday alleged that the recent demolition drive reported in Khammam district of Telangana reflects “bulldozer raj”. He accused the Congress government in the state of leaving hundreds of families homeless without giving them prior notice.
In a statement, Vijayan said that after Congress-ruled Karnataka, what he called “bulldozer raj” has now appeared in Telangana as well. He described this development as a matter of serious concern.
Citing reports from Velugumatla village in Khammam district, he claimed that about 700 houses constructed on “Bhoodan” land were demolished on February 25 in the early hours. He alleged that the action was carried out without issuing any prior notice to the residents.
He further stated that nearly 3,000 persons, many of whom possessed identification documents, were rendered homeless during the drive. The demolition, he said, was carried out in the presence of police.
The Left veteran said the houses that were demolished were located in Vinoba Nagar. He added that these houses had been allotted to landless families during the Bhoodan movement led by Vinoba Bhave. He said it was surprising that the Congress government in Telangana could not accept even the limited objectives of the Bhoodan movement, which was a land reform initiative started in 1951.
The Chief Minister also referred to people affected by a similar demolition action in Yelahanka in Karnataka. He said many of them were still forced to live on the streets. He questioned how the Congress could lead and implement such “inhuman” steps. The Chief Minister also said that the Congress leadership in Kerala, which he claimed often speaks about upholding Left values, should respond to the developments in Telangana. He also criticised the party for media advertisements issued by the Telangana government in Kerala.
Drawing a comparison, Vijayan said that Kerala had set an example of rehabilitation and reconstruction by providing new houses to people who lost everything in landslides. In contrast, he alleged that the Telangana government was even classifying people with land titles as fake patta-holders.
He said while Kerala was granting land titles to those who did not have pattas and making them rightful landowners, Telangana was carrying out evictions.
He also alleged that Congress governments were increasingly resembling some BJP-ruled northern states in following policies that displace people.
Referring again to the alleged incidents in Yelahanka in Karnataka and Khammam in Telangana, Vijayan said these reflected the approach of the Congress towards ordinary people wherever it comes to power.
He further alleged that in the case of the Mundakkai–Chooralmala landslide disaster, the Congress had promised to build hundreds of houses for people who lost everything, but later failed to fulfil that promise. The Congress has not yet responded to the allegations.
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