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Telangana CM takes away health minister's portfolio over allegations of grab
On Friday, KCR had instructed chief secretary Somesh Kumar to order an inquiry by the District Collector into the complaints of encroachments of lands on the outskirts of Achampet in Masaipet Mandal in Medak district.
Chief minister of Telangana K Chandrashekhar Rao on Saturday took away the portfolio of state health minister Etala Rajendar after allegations of land grab came into light against the latter. The portfolio of the Telangana Medical, Health and Family Welfare minister will be transferred to the CM with immediate effect, secretary to the Governor said.
On Friday, KCR had instructed chief secretary Somesh Kumar to order an inquiry into the allegations leveled by 20 farmers accusing the minister of grabbing around 20 acres of the lands on the outskirts of Achampet in Masaipet Mandal in Medak district, news agency ANI reported.
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Director General of Police (vigilance) Purnachandra Rao was also instructed to conduct a primary inquiry into the matter.
Responding to the allegation, Rajendar said his 'self-respect' is more valuable to him than his position and demanded that hearing be conducted in the matter. Further, he dismissed the allegations as a 'pre-planned sketch to defame him in the public.
"Back in 2016, for the establishment of a hatchery, I had taken a loan of ₹100 crores from Canara Bank. The land about which allegations are being made to have been grabbed by me is still being used by the beneficiaries and is not under my properties," Rajender said.
Meanwhile, the Opposition accused KCR of making Rajendar a scapegoat in an attempt to divert attention from his failure to curb the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) infection in his state.
"It is unfortunate that the backward caste Minister E Rajender is being made a scapegoat by the CM to cover up his utter failures in curtailing the pandemic in Telangana. KCR is believed to have cornered the minister with wide allegations of land grabbing only to defame his character among the people," All India Congress Committee (AICC) spokesperson Sravan Dasoju said.
(with agency inputs)
