Farmers and locals protest against proposal of three capitals for AP.
Andhra Pradesh: Amaravati: Dec 23(HS): Farmers in Amaravati and its surrounding villages continued their protest at the Velagapudi village for the fifth day in a row today against Chief Minister (CM) YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s idea to introduce three capitals in the state.
Several residents of villages in Amaravati, including women and senior citizens, participated in a sit-in protest. Police personnel has been deployed in the area and prohibitory orders were also in place to maintain the law and order situation. Students from various colleges attempted to barge into the state secretariat at Velgapudi but police managed to thwart their attempts.
Former Chief Minister Mr. Chandrababu Naidu is visiting Amaravathi today to express solidarity with the striking farmers demanding the retention of Amaravathi as the capital of Andhra Pradesh. He addressed many roadsides meets and compared the Jagan governance to Tuqlaq rule that was eccentric, illogical and equally senseless. He demanded justice to farmers and locals alike who volunteered to give up land for the noble cause of building capital for the state of Andhra Pradesh that was unprecedented in history.
Earlier this week, replying to the house on state capital issue in the Legislative Assembly, the Chief Minister said the existing capital Amaravati could become the “Legislative Capital”, the port city Visakhapatnam the “Executive Capital” and Kurnool the “Judiciary Capital”.”We may have three different capitals. A final call would be taken only after the expert committee constituted to look into the issue submitted its report.
The expert committee led by retired IAS officer Mr. G.N Rao submitted its report and it was in tune with the Chief Minister stated in the Assembly. The other recommendation being setting up four commissionerates comprising Visakhapatnam-Srikakulam-Vizianagaram (north coastal), East Godavari-West Godavari-Krishna (central coastal), Guntur-Prakasam-Nellore (south coastal) and Anantapur-Chittoor-Kadapa-Kurnool (Rayalaseema) regions for the sake of administrative convenience on the lines of the pattern followed in Karnataka.
Soon after farmers, housewives and students alike in around Guntur and Krishna District went up in arms against the decision to relocate the capital to Vizag. Farmers have “voluntarily offered” about 90 percent of the 38,581-acre land required for Andhra Pradesh’s new capital at Amravati under the pooling system, and many are yet to get compensation and many claims what do they do even if state government chooses to give back their land that was once fertile.
The state Cabinet is meeting on 28th December to take a call on the report submitted by Mr. G.N Rao committee and may call for All Party meet in the month of January to discuss relocation of capital.
