Hyderabad – On Monday, Malkajgiri MP Eatala Rajender strongly criticized Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, accusing him of ignoring public suffering while focusing on tearing down well-built homes.
Rajender claimed that the government is targeting a colony in Alwal, which was set up back in 1965, along with nearby residential areas. He also mentioned that even temples in the area have received demolition notices.
He explained that people originally settled in Alwal due to lack of livable space elsewhere. “The first generation sacrifices, the second builds homes, and the third seeks education,” he said, pointing to neighborhoods like Balaji Nagar and Arundhati Nagar as examples of hard-earned progress now under threat.
Tragedy struck in Nallachervu, Kukatpally, where a woman named Buchamma took her own life after her home was demolished. Rajender blamed the government’s HYDRA initiative, claiming it is being used as an excuse to flatten strong, permanent houses while pretending to improve people’s lives.
“When Buchamma’s house was destroyed, she lost all hope,” he said. “If people are losing sleep and ending their lives, but the government laughs it off, that’s heartless.”
He stressed that while lawyers may argue in court, in a democracy, it’s the people who make the final judgment. He emphasized that projects like the Musi Riverfront beautification are being used as a cover to remove homes in valuable areas like Chaitanyapuri and Panigiri, where families have lived for over 50 years.
The BJP held a major protest at Indira Park, opposing the demolitions. Though HYDRA claimed that only newer buildings from the last 5–10 years would be affected, residents in Bachupally and Pragati Nagar still received warnings about tearing down 5- to 7-storey buildings. This caused fear and confusion in the community.
Rajender also pointed to Division No. 133 in Machhabollaram, where both Hindu and Muslim cemeteries—built on land donated by Samala Venkat Reddy, not owned by the government—were affected. The area includes 55 colonies, many of which have also faced demolition.
He said authorities ignored his attempts to raise concerns. “Properties are being sold for over ₹20 lakh, and officials are even collecting property taxes, yet they’re bringing in bulldozers,” he said. He questioned how the government can approve buildings one day and destroy them the next.
Notably, homes belonging to Kargil War veterans’ families are located in the affected zones. Rajender also highlighted how garbage was dumped in the Hindu crematorium, where two sheds were built, causing unbearable stench for nearby residents in Balaji Nagar, forcing them to go to court.
Even after the court issued a stay order, officials continued their actions. “They didn’t even have the courage to stop after the legal order,” Rajender stated.
He called on the government to stop these demolitions and listen to the people they serve.
