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Rahejas, Satyam in naxalites' 'land grabbers' list Syed Amin Jafri in Hyderabad | October 18, 2004 11:24 IST The Communist Party of India-Maoist and Janashakti naxalites have demanded the distribution of 27,000 acres of prime land in and around Hyderabad "encroached upon or occupied" by business houses, IT firms, pharma companies, real estate developers, film producers and other "vested interests."
The naxalites want the government to ensure that all "big land grabbers or occupiers" are removed so that the land could be distributed to the landless poor. They pointed out that a majority of the land allotments were made during the nine-year rule of former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu. The naxalites have asked the government to either take over the land or collect market value from the owners. They have made it clear to the government delegation led by Home Minister K Jana Reddy that the starting point for implementing land reforms must be the distribution land under possession of these influential people. By setting right the injustices of the past, the government will not only send out a strong signal about its intentions, but will also prove its sincerity and commitment to the cause of land reforms, CPI-Maoist leader Ramakrishna and CPI-ML Janashakti leader Amar told the home minister. The government, sources said, has been taken aback by this demand. The CPI-Maoist-Janashakti list of major occupiers of prime lands around the twin cities include: Ramoji Film City (2,000 acres), Sanghi group (1,500 acres), Satyam Computers & Byrraju Foundation (2,000 acres), Dr Reddy's Labs The naxalite leaders also alleged that Chandrababu Naidu holds 'benami' shares in a real estate firm owned by a leading Telugu film actor and in a top-class construction company. They also claimed that the family of Devender Goud, former home and revenue minister in the Chandrababu Naidu cabinet, owns 1,500 acres of lands.
More reports from Andhra Pradesh Read about: The Naxalite Threat | The Speaker Falls Silent
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