Telangana farmers challenge Revanth Reddy over Future City land acquisition row
HYDERABAD: Tensions are running high in Telangana’s land acquisition saga, as the Anti-Pharma City Struggle Committee unleashed a blistering open letter to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, just one day after he inaugurated the Future City Development Authority building.
In a press statement on Wednesday, farmers from several affected villages reminded the Chief Minister of his previous commitments and challenged him and Congress leaders to offer their own land for the rehabilitation of displaced farmers if Future City is considered essential.
This protest has been building over weeks of discontent. Tribal farmers marked the 46th day of their relay hunger strike and released the letter, staging their protest five kilometers from the site of the Chief Minister’s event on Tuesday.
The farmers’ collective recalled that when CM Reddy was in the opposition and undertaking a padayatra, affected farmers of the proposed Pharma City had pleaded with him, “If we lose our lands, we cannot survive.”
The committee emphasized how these promises shaped their hopes. According to the letter, Reddy assured them at the time, “We will definitely protect your lands.” Senior Congress figures, including Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka, and Ministers Seethakka, Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, Kodanda Reddy, and Malreddy Rangareddy also walked with farmers in the region and promised, “Do not give up your lands. Once we come to power, we will cancel the land acquisition, restore your full rights, and scrap Pharma City.”
The farmers allege that Pharma City has been replaced by Future City, with land acquisition continuing under a new name. They state, “If they intended to cancel Pharma City only to replace it with Future City, they should have openly said so before the elections. But they did not seek votes on that promise.” The letter also notes that the Pharma City Government Order (G.O.) remains in effect.
During Tuesday’s foundation ceremony, CM Revanth Reddy acknowledged opposition to Future City, saying, “Some farmers are unhappy that they did not receive proper compensation. Those who are losing their lands for Future City can take the compensation money and purchase land elsewhere, a little farther away.”
The farmers’ committee responded with anguish, “Today, those same leaders very casually advise us, Take compensation and buy land somewhere far away.” They note that farmers from Kurmidda, Tatiparthi, Nanaknagar, and Medipally have obtained court stay orders and refuse to give up their fertile lands, which produce three crops annually.
In a pointed appeal, the farmers wrote, “If our land is absolutely required for development, then let you and your party leaders first give your own lands to us farmers. Build our villages there, near your lands. Instead of asking small and marginal farmers owning one or two acres to sacrifice everything in the name of a ‘great Future City’ and the ‘nation’s future,’ let that sacrifice begin with you and your party leaders.”
The letter was signed by Kundarapu Narayana, Vislavath Sattulal, Nenavath Pantya, Vislavath Jyothi, Panga Anasuya, Barla Mallesh, Bukka Chennaiah, Gaddam Ravinder, Panga Manemma, Devoji, Somaiah, Mandali Ramulu, among others.
The current standoff shows no signs of abating. As of Tuesday evening, tribal farmers near the Future City corridor continued their relay hunger strike and demanded cancellation of the Greenfield Road project and protection of their lands. The Chief Minister’s office and other Congress leaders named in the letter have not yet responded. The Anti-Pharma City Struggle Committee has warned that they will intensify protests if the government proceeds with acquisition without addressing farmers’ concerns.
