Agitated over the Jagan government’s plan to trifurcate the capital of Andhra Pradesh, the farmers have intensified their protest which is continuing for more than 300 days in the Amaravati region.
Farmers were protesting by wearing masks of Modi and demanding ‘One state One capital’. High tension prevailed in Uddandarayunipalem in the Amaravati region when police forces were deployed to evict protesters who gathered at the tents that were put up near the foundation stone for the capital city of Amaravati which was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Many farmers and women took part in a padayatra from capital villages Rayapudi, Mandadam, Guntur to Uddhandrayunipalem, where the PM laid the foundation stone.
They raised slogans and said the Jagan government betrayed them on the construction of Amaravati capital. The protesting farmers of Amaravati got due permission from the police to gather at Uddandarayunipalem. As hundreds of police personnel entered the protest area, the Amaravati farmers chanted “Save Amaravati- one state one capital Amaravati.”
Five years ago, on 22 October 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation stone for Amaravati; the capital of Andhra Pradesh. But Jagan Mohan Reddy led Andhra Pradesh government is planning to set up three capitals – administrative capital at Visakhapatnam, legislative capital at Amaravathi and judicial capital at Kurnool.
Five years have passed but not much development can be seen in the capital city, alleged farmers.
Meanwhile, police asked the farmers to vacate the tents and return home. The police said another group owing allegiance to three-capitals gathered at the Amaravati foundation stone and raised slogans in favor of three capitals.
The farmers said that they had donated 33,000 acres of their agricultural lands for Amaravati as capital. Congress leader Sunkara Padma also actively participated in the protests and supported the farmers who have been agitating for the capital of Amaravati.
Telugu Desam Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu has slammed the YSRCP government for the decision to trifurcate the state capital.
On the other hand, Dalits in the Amaravati capital region have come out in support of the three capital formula of the YSRCP government. They too protested against one state one capital and demanded the development should be there in all parts.