Congress Leaders Accuse Ex‑BRS Minister Harish Rao of Massive Land Scam in Siddipet

On Friday a group of Congress MPs and Members of the Legislative Council rolled into Siddipet, armed with maps, a few farmer testimonies and, frankly, a lot of questions. Their target? Former BRS minister Harish Rao, who they say turned public land into a private playground.

“Our intention today is very clear,” said Congress MP Anil Kumar Yadav to reporters. “We want to expose the land scam that took place under the BRS government and present evidence to the public.” Yadav added that the team hoped the visit would force the authorities to look closely at how land was allotted during Rao’s tenure.

One of the most striking accusations came from Congress MP Mallu Ravi. He alleged that roughly 13 acres of fertile farmland were taken from local farmers at a rock‑bottom price – a price that, by any stretch, could not have been market‑fair. On top of that, a road leading straight to Rao’s farmhouse was supposedly built under the pretense of an irrigation project, a classic case of ‘development’ that benefits the official more than the community.

Ravi didn’t stop there. He pointed to the Siddipet Urban Development Authority (SUDA), which, according to him, handed over land on three sides of the farmhouse to develop a public park. The irony, he argued, was that the park essentially surrounded the minister’s private residence, turning public green space into a fence.

Adding another layer to the controversy, Congress MP Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy brought up the Ranganayak Sagar project – an irrigation scheme launched in 2016‑17. While the original plan called for 2,212 acres, the government only managed to acquire 2,183 acres, leaving a “table‑top” chunk of land in the middle of the project. Reddy asked, “Do you know who purchased this land? The very same irrigation minister who was in office at the time – Harish Rao – bought it and built a beautiful farmhouse.” He promised to keep digging until the truth surfaces.

The delegation’s visit was meant to be more than a fact‑finding mission; it was a call for accountability. “We request the government to look into all these issues and deliver justice to the common man and the farmers,” Ravi said, echoing the sentiment of many who feel sidelined by political power plays.

While the Congress leaders are now gearing up to present whatever evidence they gather, the story remains a work in progress. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)