In an overnight task, Andhra Pradesh’s former CM, Chandrababu Naidu’s Rs 8 crore ‘Praja Vedika’, which was built adjacent to his residence has been now demolished. The demolition had been ordered by Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, who claimed the building was “illegal” and said all such structures would be destroyed.
The demolition took place after the Andhra High Court turned down a late night plea and adjourned the hearing by two weeks. The petition had alleged the demolition was a waste of public money.
Dozens of workers moved out furniture, air conditioners and other items before launching the demolition with JCB machines. A large number of policemen were deployed in the area to maintain law and order.
A minister in Reddy’s government has said Naidu’s residence could be torn down next.
Naidu, who was on holiday in Europe and only returned yesterday, said it was foolish to destroy government property. He also asked if the Chief Minister was planning to tear down statues of his father, former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy, saying, “Many statues don’t have permission (and) stand on unauthorized land.”
The newly elected Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Jagan Mohan Reddy has passed demolition orders for Praja Vedika, a sprawling conference hall built by former Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu at Vundvalli in Amravati. According to the new AP government, Naidu’s Praja Vedika flouts environmental laws.
CM Reddy on Monday declared all the buildings that came up on the banks of Krishna river were illegal and unauthorised constructions. He said these would be demolished one after the other starting Wednesday.
Reddy had held his government’s first Collector’s Conference in the Praja Vedika hall and took the demolition decision of the building from within the building itself. “Praja Vedika is an illegal structure. It is constructed violating rules. A person of the stature of a Chief Minister had allowed construction of this building. If a CM himself violates rules, imagine the corruption prevailing down the administration?” he said.
Reddy added that he held the first Collector’s Conference from the Praja Vedika just to showcase how corruption is prevailing in the state. “This is the last meeting in this building. After Tuesday’s meeting with police officials including Director General of Police (DGP) and others, this building will be demolished. I order officials to demolish the building the very next day of the end of this meeting,” he said.
The TDP chief had earlier written to the new Chief Minister to allow him to retain the hall so he could work from there as the Leader of Opposition in the state assembly.
“I wish to continue the same arrangement, that the ‘Praja Vedika’ be declared as the residence annexe of the leader of the opposition, to facilitate me to meet legislators, visitors, common public and discharge my duties,” he wrote.
Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP was voted out in Assembly polls in April, with Jagan Mohan Reddy’s YSR Congress claiming a massive mandate. The party also decimated the TDP in parliamentary elections, winning 22 of 25 seats.
