Harish Rao demands all-party meeting on River Musi eviction policy

HYDERABAD: BRS MLA T Harish Rao demanded an all-party meeting before proceeding with any further actions regarding the ongoing evictions near the River Musi in Hyderabad.

Harish Rao, along with former minister Sabitha Indra Reddy and members of the BRS Legal Cell, interacted with the residents who were likely to face eviction as part of the government’s plans for the Musi riverfront development.

Speaking to media persons later at Telangana Bhavan on Saturday, Harish Rao condemned Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy's handling of the Musi River project, accusing him of pushing policies that harmed economically weaker communities. He pointed out that Revanth Reddy, who promised to divert Godavari waters to the Musi, had instead caused suffering by displacing poor and middle-class families without proper consideration for their welfare. He accused Revanth Reddy of bringing "tears to the eyes of the poor" through his approach and said that the government's actions demonstrated a lack of empathy for the vulnerable sections of society.

Harish Rao was particularly critical of the decision to approve large commercial and residential developments along the Musi River while bulldozing the modest homes of the poor who had lived in these areas for years. He questioned the fairness of such an approach and stated that development could not be built on the "tears of the poor." He highlighted the distress these policies had caused and called for a more humane and inclusive approach.

Referring to the recent tragic incidents involving those affected by these evictions, Harish Rao mentioned the case of Buchamma, a woman from Kukatpally who reportedly died by suicide fearing demolition of her house by HYDRAA. He called it an act of "murder by policy" due to the direct impact of Revanth Reddy's decision-making. He also cited another incident where a woman died from a heart attack after receiving a demolition notice, blaming these incidents on what he called Revanth Reddy's "reckless decisions."

Further, Harish Rao took aim at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, pointing out the contradiction between his campaign against "bulldozer politics" during the Haryana elections and what was currently happening in Telangana. Rao demanded that Rahul Gandhi come to Telangana and stop the evictions if he truly opposed "bulldozer raj."

Harish Rao assured the affected residents that the Telangana Bhavan doors were always open for them, describing the victims as part of the "family of Telangana." He pledged that the BRS party would stand by the victims, offering support and protection. He emphasised that the BRS Legal Cell would provide aid and act as a "protective shield" for all those displaced by the demolitions. He promised that a team of BRS MLAs would continue to visit the affected areas to stand in solidarity with the victims.

In a direct appeal to Revanth Reddy, Harish Rao urged him to focus on the six guarantees that Congress had promised to implement within the first hundred days of governance. He criticised Reddy for his "ill-considered decisions" and accused him of damaging Hyderabad's reputation through the controversial actions taken against the vulnerable residents.

Harish Rao stressed the need for an all-party consensus before making any decisions about the future of the Musi River project. He insisted that no further actions should be taken without consulting all stakeholders, including representatives from all political parties, to ensure a fair and transparent decision-making process that took into account the welfare of all affected families.