Assigned lands should be sold only to Dalits: Visakha Vedika

The Visakha Dalita Sanghala Ikhya Vedika has demanded immediate amendments to Government Order No: 596, ensuring that assigned lands can only be sold to Scheduled Castes (SCs). Speaking to the media on Monday, the Vedika’s Andhra Pradesh state council convener Boosi Venkata Rao accused the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government of orchestrating a large-scale scam to loot assigned lands over the past five years.
Venkata Rao alleged that the scam could have been avoided with amendments to the existing Government Order. He highlighted that, even before the GO was issued by the previous administration, coercive agreements were made with weaker sections, acquiring their lands at rock-bottom prices.  He specifically named former Chief Secretary KS Jawahar Reddy and certain YSRCP leaders as key figures in the scam, demanding their accountability.
“As soon as the GO was released, 34,000 acres of assigned lands were registered across the state, with 2,000 acres in North Andhra alone within just a month,” stated Venkata Rao. He called for a thorough investigation into these registrations, suggesting that they were carried out under dubious circumstances to benefit powerful interests.
Sodadasi Sudhakar, another Vedika representative, decried the injustice, noting that lands worth crores of rupees were taken from SCs for a mere fraction of their value. He stressed the necessity of protecting the rights of the SC community and ensuring they receive fair compensation for their lands.
The Vedika members insisted that the new government launch a detailed investigation into the assigned land scam and take corrective actions against those involved. Representatives E Sujatha, Omkar, B Kumar, B Bhaskara Rao, and G Prasad joined the media address, reinforcing the demand for justice and transparency in land dealings.
The call for amendments to GO No: 596 and a probe into the alleged scam represents a significant move by the Visakha Dalita Sanghala Ikhya Vedika to safeguard the interests of the SC community and prevent exploitation by powerful entities. The Vedika hopes their demands will lead to legislative changes that protect the rights of marginalized communities in Andhra Pradesh, ensuring that justice prevails.
Photo caption: Representatives of Visakha Dalita Sanghala Ikhya Vedika addressing the gathering at a meeting held in Visakhapatnam on Sunday.