Hyderabad: The BRS on Monday urged governor Shiv Pratap Shukla to order an inquiry into the alleged illegal mining and land-grabbing activities of minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy. A BRS delegation, led by party working president KT Rama Rao, met the governor and submitted a representation along with documents on the alleged irregularities. The delegation demanded the minister’s immediate dismissal and called for an independent judicial inquiry, preferably under the supervision of a sitting judge of the high court, to ensure transparency and justice.BRS leaders alleged that a company owned by the minister, Raghava Constructions, has been carrying out illegal mining activities in violation of established norms, including operations in restricted zones such as the catchment areas of the twin reservoirs. They further stated that these activities were conducted without mandatory clearances, including mineral dealer licences, pollution control board approvals, electricity permissions, and industrial clearances, resulting in the loss of public resources worth hundreds of crores.The delegation also pointed out that when these issues were raised in the assembly, the ruling Congress govt chose to suspend and expel BRS MLAs and MLCs instead of addressing the allegations. They noted that the govt itself admitted in the assembly that notices were issued to Raghava Constructions.Addressing the media later, KTR said that the Congress govt, which came to power promising ‘Indiramma Rajyam’, has instead recreated conditions reminiscent of the ‘Emergency era’. He recalled that even the governor had endured imprisonment during the Emergency and expressed concern that similar undemocratic conditions are now prevailing in Telangana.KTR asserted that a legislative committee comprising MLAs and MLCs should be constituted to investigate the matter. Alternatively, he said, a fully independent judicial probe must be ordered. He expressed a lack of confidence in state agencies such as CB-CID, especially when the CM Revanth Reddy himself holds the home portfolio. BRS leaders urged the governor to intervene in the interest of justice and direct an impartial investigation, either through a sitting high court judge or central agencies. KTR also criticised the silence of the BJP on the issue, stating that it has failed to exert any pressure on the state govt.
