Did AP Govt. demolish 10 temples for Golf Course?

Heated debate on temple demolition

Source:Deccan Chronicle

Hyderabad, March 7: Endowment minister J.C. Diwakar Reddy and Khairatabad legislator P. Janardan Reddy crossed swords over the alleged demolition of 10 temples in Nanakramguda and Gachibowli of Ranga Reddy district. Raising the issue during question hour, Mr Janardan Reddy alleged that Emaar Properties had demolished 10 temples to set up a golf course.

However, the minister hotly denied this and said that there were no temples in the land as per the records of the endowment department. Though the question pertained to the alleged demolition of the temples, Mr Janardan Reddy spoke about how Mr Koneru Prasad of Emaar properties sold the land at Rs 5 crores per acre after buying it for Rs 5 lakh per acre from farmers.

Speaker K.R. Suresh Reddy repeatedly asked him to stick to the subject instead of digressing. Mr Diwakar Reddy also objected to the MLA’s raising revenue related issues in a question about temple demolition. “There is no need for me to tell a senior leader like him that no temple was demolished,” said the minister. Though other Opposition parties demanded more details, the Speaker ended the discussion and asked the minister to get more details on the subject.