Hyderabad, April 17: In a complete U-turn, senior Congress leader G Venkataswamy today maintained that he did not criticise former chief Minister late YS Rajasekhara Reddy, but said he did not know why the late YSR had asked him to part with 50 percent of his land (out of a total of eight acres) at the Banjara Hills area here. In spite of having clear registration for the land, three former chief ministers (refused to disclose the names) also had an eye on the land, he quipped.
Talking to newsmen at his residence here, the senior Congress leader claimed that he had never indulged in land-grabbing cases nor faced corruption charges during his life time.
The land was purchased in Banjara Hills even before an Act relating to land-grabbing cases came into existence.
In spite of having a favourable judgment in the Supreme Court, the controversy on the land still continues for the last 30 years as the Government once again filed an appeal in the Court. “I am ready to face any punishment, including imprisonment, if the opponents prove their charges of landgrabbing against me,’’ he added.
Replying to a q u e r y, Ve n – katswamy said that he would disclose the corruption details that took place in Jalayagnam programme at a later stage.
“Do they (Government) want to cheat the people of Telangana region on the prestigious Pranahitha-Chevella project since a meagre amount of Rs.200 crore was allocated to the project of the total Rs.38,000 crore,’’ he pointed out.
—Agencies