Amaravati, Nov 29, : An interesting development was that a legislator from Andhra Pradesh’s ruling YSR Congress Party, (YSRCP), called Monday on Amaravati farmers taking part in ongoing ‘Maha Padyatra’ and extended support. K.
Sridhar Reddy, Member of Legislative Assembly, called upon the farmers who were staying in Nellore’s function hall.The MLA offered all assistance and asked farmers to contact him if they needed any help.
He was however evasive when farmers asked him to share the slogan of “Jai Amaravati” with them.The MLA stated that he had some difficulties in raising the slogan.
Sridhar Reddy, a YSRCP MLA, is the first to meet Amaravati farmers after they launched ‘Maha Padyatra’ from Amaravati towards Tirupati on November 1, to demand that Amaravati be kept as the sole state capital.
All political parties support the ‘Maha Padyatra’, except YSRCP.
The leaders of the ruling party have called the walkathon a ploy of N.Chandrababu Naidu, president of Telugu Desam Party and leader of the opposition.
After walking through villages in Guntur, Prakasam and other districts, the walkathon reached Nellore district last Wednesday.
In the meantime, farmers extended their break for Monday to accommodate heavy rains.
For over 700 days, Amaravati farmers have protested against the plans of the state government to trifurcate the State capital.Their protest entered a new stage with the ‘Maha Padyatra’.
The walkathon was titled “court to temple” and began on November 1.Protestors are walking 10-15km every day, waving slogans like “Jai Amaravati”.
It was organized by Amaravati Parirakshana Saithi and Amaravati Joint Action Committee, (JAC).It is scheduled to reach Tirupati in December 15.
Two laws that were passed last year to split the state capital were withdrawn by the YSRCP government last week.The government clarified however that this was done in order to introduce new comprehensive legislation for the development of three state capitals.
Farmers and women from Amaravati have pledged to continue their protest until the government abandons its plans and keeps Amaravati as the sole capital.
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