HYDERABAD: Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President K. T. Rama Rao (KTR) mounted a scathing attack on the Congress-led Telangana government on Monday, questioning the proposed acquisition of fertile agricultural lands from local farmers in Bahadurguda (Bahadurpally) near Shamshabad for the proposed bullet train project.
Interacting with an delegation of affected farmers at the party headquarters in Telangana Bhavan, Rama Rao assured them of full legal and political backing, declaring that BRS would contest the “indiscriminate acquisition” all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary.
Addressing the media following the meeting, KTR emphasized that the BRS is not opposed to infrastructure development or the bullet train project itself, but strongly objects to displacing families who have been cultivating their lands for generations when suitable government-controlled alternatives are readily available.
“Over 5,500 acres were previously acquired for the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Shamshabad,” KTR pointed out, noting that the state holds a 13% stake in the airport. He questioned why unused, vacant lands within the airport premises could not be utilized for the rail corridor and its terminal, instead of taking away nearly 1,000 acres of private agricultural plots.
The BRS leader further alleged that the state administration is utilizing heavy-handed tactics, including the deployment of hundreds of police personnel and officials from HYDRAA and the Revenue Department, to intimidate small landowners and clear private properties without following due process.
Referring to ongoing legal battles where the Telangana High Court had previously ordered a status quo on the disputed land parcels, KTR accused the governing party of abusing state power to advance real estate interests under the guise of major infrastructure projects. Urging the farmers to stand united and refrain from signing away their property documents under pressure, Rama Rao reiterated that the BRS legal cell will actively represent affected plot owners to defend their land rights.
