Lagatar24 Desk
Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has defended the recent demolition of the convention center co-owned by actor Nagarjuna Akkineni, citing the teachings of Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita. Speaking at a function organized by the Hare Krishna Movement, the Chief Minister asserted that the demolition was necessary and aligned with the principles of dharma as taught in the sacred text. He emphasized that his government would not spare anyone, regardless of their influence, if they are found to have encroached upon lakes or other public lands.
Revanth Reddy drew parallels between the ongoing demolition drive and the guidance Lord Krishna provided to Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita. He said that just as Krishna urged Arjuna to fight for the greater good, even against his own kin, his government is committed to demolishing illegal structures to protect public resources, even if it means facing opposition from powerful individuals.
“Arjuna hesitated to fight, thinking about the consequences of battling his own family. But Krishna reminded him that upholding dharma is paramount, even if it requires tough decisions. Similarly, I am determined to go ahead with these demolitions to protect Hyderabad’s lakes, despite knowing that it might upset many influential people,” Reddy explained.
The Congress-led Telangana government has initiated a series of demolitions targeting illegal structures built within the full tank level (FTL) of water bodies. The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Monitoring and Protection (HYDRAA) has been actively involved in these operations, which have already seen properties belonging to Congress leaders Pallam Raju and Danam Nagender being brought down.
One of the most high-profile demolitions was that of the N-Convention Centre, co-owned by Nagarjuna Akkineni. The structure was reportedly built on encroached land that is part of Tammidikunta Lake. Although the matter is still pending in court, which had issued a stay on the demolition, the authorities proceeded with the action, prompting strong condemnation from Nagarjuna. The actor termed the demolition “unlawful” and stated that he would have personally taken down the structure if the court had ruled against him.
The Telangana government, however, maintains that the N-Convention Centre was constructed in the FTL/buffer zone without proper building permissions. A government release stated that the demolition was carried out to safeguard public interest and protect the city’s water bodies from further encroachment.
Chief Minister Reddy also addressed concerns about the environmental impact of illegal constructions, noting that some farmhouses built near lakes were discharging sewage into water bodies such as Gandipet, which supplies drinking water to parts of Hyderabad. He emphasized his responsibility to protect these lakes and the interests of the people.
Meanwhile, Harish Rao, a leader of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), accused the Congress government of using the demolition drive as a tactic to target opposition leaders and pressure them into joining the ruling party. He questioned whether the government would take similar action against properties owned by Congress leaders like Ponguleti Srinivas and Patnam Mahender Reddy.
The city’s extensive network of lakes, designed by the Nizam administration with the help of renowned engineer Mokshagundam Vishvesvaraya following a major flood in 1908, is now at the center of this contentious issue.
