Chandrababu Naidu expresses solidarity with agitating farmers in Amaravati

Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party chief Chandrababu Naidu today visited the Yerrabalem village in the Amaravati region in support of farmers who have been protesting against the YSRCP government's three-capital proposal.

Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh): Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday visited Yerrabalem village in the Amaravati region and expressed solidarity with the farmers who have been protesting against the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy government's three-capital proposal.

The leader accompanied by his wife Bhuvaneswari visited the village to meet the farmers whose protest entered the 15th day today.

Speaking to reporters, Naidu said, "It is very unfortunate that the CM is unnecessarily disturbing Amaravati. There is no need to spend additional investment. Everything is here, High Court, Secretariat, and DGP office, etc. We condemn this move."

Asserting that the announcement has thrust the state into total chaos, Naidu had yesterday tweeted, "TDP will not celebrate New Year in view of Amaravati agitation. We will join the thousands of protesting farmers and agricultural workers to #SaveAmaravati."

Read: Amaravati farmers write to President, seek mercy killing

Anguished by the proposal to shift the capital from Amaravati to Visakhapatnam, the farmers of the region recently wrote a letter to President Ram Nath Kovind seeking a direction to "stall the process of shifting the capital city" or else grant them "permission for mercy killing."

People of 29 villages in the region have been demanding Amaravati to be retained as the sole capital of the state.

Read: Naidu urges people to donate money kept for New Year's revelry to Amaravati Parirakshana Samithi

On December 27, the Andhra Pradesh cabinet had deferred taking a decision on relocating the capital, saying it wanted to wait for the report of an international consulting firm, which is expected to submit the report on January 3.

Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy had indicated on December 17 that Andhra Pradesh could have three capitals as decentralization was a real concept.

The existing capital Amaravati, which is only in the basic stages of development could become the 'Legislative Capital', port city Visakhapatnam the 'Executive Capital' and Kurnool the 'Judiciary Capital', he had said.

Read: Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM posts TikTok video praising Jagan