The farmers’ movement demanding that Amaravati be retained as the only capital of Andhra Pradesh reached its 400th day on Wednesday. Yes, the government is firm on trifurcating the capital and shifting the executive capital to Visakhapatnam and judicial capital to Kurnool from the existing Amaravati region.
On the occasion of 400 days of their movement, Amaravati farmers staged a huge rally in the villages of the capital. Leaders of various political parties participated in the rally and expressed support for the struggle of the farmers. Farmers said the government has so far made many false allegations with the conspiracy to remove the capital from Amaravati.
Tensions continue in Gollapudi in Vijayawada city of Krishna district amid former minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao’s protest at the NTR statue in Gollapudi on the occasion of the 400th day of the Amaravati movement. TDP senior leader Narendra Uma arrived at the residence to express support for the initiation.
On the other hand, the Andhra Pradesh High Court gave a sensational verdict dismissing cases against Amaravati farmers. The High Court on Wednesday struck down the atrocity sections imposed on Krishnayapalem farmers. Hearing these, the High Court ruled that the atrocity sections should be removed and dismissed the cases against 11 farmers in Krishnayapalem of the Amaravati region.
Tensions flared in October when farmers in the capital near Krishnayapalem blocked an auto coming to attend a protest in support of three capitals in the Amaravati region. On the same night, Mangalagiri Mandal YSRCP SC cell president Eepuri Ravi Babu lodged a complaint with the police. He said he was threatened by farmers who went to rectify the situation. Police have registered cases against 11 persons under various sections, including the SC and ST Atrocities Act.