HYDERABAD: BJP state president Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Tuesday charged Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao with violating forest conservation laws and allowing the construction of an idgah in forest land in Chincholi village of Nirmal district.
Sanjay said the BRS government had sought permission from the Centre in June 2022 to divert 3.373 hectares of forest land for building a vocational training and skill development centre. This was approved by the Union ministry of environment and forests but the government was now building an idgah on the forest land.
In a letter to Chandrashekar Rao, Sanjay warned that if the Chief Minister did stop the idgah construction immediately, the BJP would launch an agitation and file a legal complaint about how the state government was violating forest land permissions granted by the Centre.
“It is unfortunate and illegal that the land is now being used as an idgah, for your selfish political gains. The government rules clearly stipulate that the government lands earmarked for public purposes should not be allotted for places of worship,” Sanjay mentioned in the letter.
Despite the fact that it was illegal, the Chief Minister remained silent, "deliberately supporting these illegal activities."
“I'm sure you're aware that there are two Hindu houses of worship close to where the idgah is being constructed. While allotment of land meant for the unemployed youth is a big mistake and the construction of idgah near Hindu temples that would create disturbances among the people of two religions would be a big crime," Sanjay remarked.
The activity was in violation of orders from several courts on use of diverted forest land. “This is nothing but defying the judiciary and amounts to contempt of the court,” Sanjay stated.
He accused the Chief Minister of permitting the idgah construction “to promote a particular religion for the sake of votes, even at the cost of the future of the unemployed”. Instead of playing such politics, he said, the BJP wants a skill development centre constructed to benefit the unemployed youth.
