Former Telangana minister and BRS leader Harish Rao has strongly criticised the detention of around 6,000 licensed surveyors who staged a protest demanding justice for their long-pending issues. He said it was unfortunate that the surveyors were taken to police stations and detained instead of addressing their concerns.
Harish Rao also condemned the remarks allegedly made by IAS officer Lokesh Kumar against highly educated young professionals, including those holding B.Tech, M.Tech and civil engineering qualifications. He said suppressing surveyors instead of resolving their problems reflected the arrogance of the government.
Harish Rao made these remarks during a meeting with licensed surveyors at Telangana Bhavan.
“Think About What Could Happen If Youth Rise Up”
Harish Rao said the country had recently witnessed in Delhi the consequences of students and youth rising against issues affecting them.
He warned Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy to consider what could happen if 6,000 licensed surveyors and the 6,000 families dependent on them united as a force.
He urged the government to invite the surveyors for discussions and resolve their problems before the situation escalates. On behalf of the BRS, he demanded that the government immediately engage with the surveyors.
Harish Rao also condemned the alleged arrests and harassment of surveyors and the reported attempts to prevent them from meeting BRS leaders. He said people approach opposition parties when the government fails to address their problems and that standing with the people is the responsibility of the opposition.
“Are Egos More Important Than Public Issues?”
Harish Rao expressed surprise at the approach of officials in the Chief Minister’s Office. He alleged that officials were preventing representatives of the people from discussing public issues instead of engaging with them.
He reminded the government that the Chief Minister’s position was a responsibility entrusted by the people and that government employees and officials were paid through taxes collected from the public.
“Collectors Are Telling Surveyors to Take Bribes”
Harish Rao said it was deeply distressing that two licensed surveyors had allegedly died by suicide after falling into debt and struggling to support their families.
According to him, licensed surveyors do not receive a minimum salary, TA, DA or health insurance and are forced to conduct surveys using their own money. He questioned how surveyors could survive when they spend around ₹100 on fuel but receive only ₹60 per acre for conducting a survey.
Harish Rao alleged that when surveyors approached collectors with their grievances, they were reportedly told to collect money through bribes to cover their expenses. He said such remarks demonstrated the government’s failure to address the basic problems faced by the surveyors.
He also criticised the Congress government’s claims of providing 70,000 jobs. Harish Rao claimed that, according to figures revealed in the Assembly, the government had actually provided only around 16,500 jobs. He further alleged that counting the 6,000 licensed surveyors among the government’s job creation figures was misleading.
Harish Rao Assures Surveyors of BRS Support
Harish Rao appealed to licensed surveyors not to lose hope and urged them not to take extreme steps. He assured them that the BRS would stand firmly with them and continue to support their fight for the resolution of their problems.
He demanded that the government stop suppressing the protesting surveyors and instead initiate talks with them and take immediate steps to address their grievances.
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