Jagan slams TDP for ‘credit chori’ in land resurvey, vows legal fight over Pinnelli incident

Amaravati: YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president and former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Thursday accused the Telugu Desam Party leadership of indulging in ‘credit chori’ by claiming ownership of the comprehensive land resurvey carried out during the previous government.

He also affirmed that legal options would be pursued to secure justice for the villagers of Pinnelli who were allegedly forced out of their homes.

‘Misuse of official machinery’

Addressing the media at Tadepalli, Jagan Mohan Reddy also launched a scathing attack on the coalition government, alleging widespread corruption and misuse of official machinery, while indicating that the party’s mass contact programme would be launched when anti-incumbency reaches its peak.

Land resurvey was a YSRCP initiative: Jagan

The former Chief Minister said the comprehensive land resurvey was conceived and implemented entirely by the YSRCP government as part of its commitment to resolve long-pending land disputes faced by farmers.

He recalled that the issue featured prominently during his padayatra and was included in the party’s 2019 manifesto.

According to him, the government spent nearly Rs 6,000 crore and deployed around 40,000 personnel to execute the resurvey, issuing tamper-proof land titles with advanced security features using modern technology.

“No government before us had the courage or capacity to undertake such a massive reform,” he said, adding that the initiative had received national recognition.

TDP pocketed aid from Centre, says Jagan

Jagan alleged that after coming to power, N Chandrababu Naidu merely collected Pattadar Passbooks from farmers, changed their colour and reissued them while claiming full credit for the exercise.

Even the Rs 400 crore released by the Centre as a token of appreciation for the resurvey, he claimed, was appropriated by the TDP leadership. He further alleged that the newly issued passbooks were riddled with errors, aggravating farmers’ problems rather than resolving them.

Pre-poll ‘fear campaign’ allegation

The YSRCP chief accused the TDP’s propaganda machinery of spreading misinformation ahead of the elections by claiming that lands would be seized under the Bhu Raksha and Bhu Hakku schemes.

He said IVR calls were made to intimidate farmers and dissuade them from voting for the YSRCP, but asserted that such ‘short-term political gains’ would not endure.

Pinnelli incident to be challenged in court

Referring to the Pinnelli episode, Jagan Mohan Reddy alleged that villagers, most of whom were YSRCP supporters, were forced to flee due to the misuse of police and administrative machinery.

He said a Dalit man was brutally assaulted when he returned to the village to attend to his ailing wife and later died while undergoing treatment.

He alleged that the police initially refused to hand over the body and relented only after protests by YSRCP leaders.

“Such undemocratic actions will be challenged legally, and justice will be ensured,” he said.

Charges of corruption against the coalition government

The former Chief Minister accused the coalition government of rampant corruption, citing the proliferation of gambling dens during Sankranti, liquor outlets in villages and commissions flowing ‘from top to bottom.’

He questioned why sand revenues had not increased despite prices doubling and alleged favouritism in awarding Amaravati contracts at inflated costs. Defending his government’s record, he said the YSRCP administration had performed well even during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Leader of the Opposition status and padayatra

Jagan reiterated that there was little purpose in attending the Assembly unless the Leader of the Opposition status was accorded to the YSRCP, the lone opposition party in the House.

On his proposed padayatra, he said the timing would be decided politically, when anti-incumbency against the government reaches its peak.