LIVE: Protests intensify in AP against 'three-capital' Bill

16:50 January 21

We demand immediate restoration of the telecast : Chandrababu Naidu

Chandrababu Naidu expressing his anger on Andhra Pradesh's government tweeted, "By blocking the LIVE telecast of the proceedings at the Legislative Council, it’s proven that cowardly YSRCP has no face to show to the people of AP who are against 3 Capitals bill. We demand immediate restoration of the telecast & cancellation of the bill! #ShameOnYSJagan."

16:39 January 21

TDP MP Galla Jayadev gets bail after arrest over Andhra capital protest

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MP Galla Jayadev was on Tuesday granted bail by a Mangalagiri court a day after he was arrested for participating in the protest on the three-capital issue.

Mangalagiri Magistrate Court granted bail to Jayadev, who was on Monday arrested by the police in Amaravati during a rally by farmers against the State government's approval on the proposal to set up three capitals.

Andhra Pradesh State Assembly on Monday passed the 'Andhra Pradesh Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of All Regions Bill 2020'.

14:40 January 21

Lawyers in East Godavari to boycott duties till January 25

Lawyers from the Rajamahendravaram Bar Association claimed that as many as five thousand lawyers from the district will boycott their duties till January 25 in protest against the shifting of the High Court to Kurnool, which is set to become Andhra Pradesh's new judicial capital. The lawyers said that people from the rest of the state will face difficulties if they have to travel to Kurnool and hence demanded that a bench of the High Court be set up in the East Godavari district.

14:20 January 21

TDP MLC quits over three-capital move

Upset over Amaravati losing the status of Andhra Pradesh's only capital, TDP leader Dokka Manikya Varaprasad Rao on Tuesday resigned from the State Legislative Council. The former minister sent his resignation to Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N. Chandrababu Naidu.

Rao wrote that his resignation is in protest against the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government's move to develop three state capitals. He said he was pained over Amaravati losing the status of state capital as key functions will be shifted to Visakhapatnam and Kurnool.

His move came on a day when the Council was scheduled to take up two Bills passed by the State Assembly Monday night to create three state capitals. TDP, which has a majority in the upper House, has issued a whip to all members to be present. However, Rao and another member stayed away.

In the 58-member Council, TDP has 34 members while YSRCP has only nine members. If the Council rejects the Bills, they will be sent back to the Assembly. As per rules, the Council can't reject the Bills for a second time.

14:18 January 21

BJP releases black balloons in Nellore

BJP members in Nellore found a novel way to protest against the 'three-capital' Bill, as they released black balloons in the sky and raised slogans.

14:03 January 21

BJP stages protest against Bill in Vijayawada

BJP members protested against the three-capital Bill in Vijayawada. Party leader V Satya Murthy claimed that both the YSRCP and TDP governments created problems in the region. "Jagan Mohan Reddy said there is no money, so from where will he get the money to shift to Visakhapatnam. Can't he rule from Amaravati?" he questioned.

13:51 January 21

Speaker walks out as TDP MLAs create ruckus

On the second day of the Special Assembly, the Speaker walked out of the Assembly without announcing any adjournment, after TDP MLAs created ruckus over the arrest of Guntur MP Jayadev Galla yesterday. Jayadev Galla was protesting in Amaravati against the state Cabinet's approval for 3 capitals.

12:29 January 21

LIVE: Protests intensify in AP against 'three-capital' Bill

Deployment of police force for bandh called by villagers in Amaravati region

Security concerns led to a huge deployment of police on the second day of the state assembly session and for the bandh (shut down) called by Amaravati Joint Action Committee (JAC) on Tuesday.

The bandh has been called in villages of Amaravati against the police lathi charge on farmers.

All the 29 villages have been observing the bandh on Tuesday with shopkeepers closing their businesses voluntarily.

Meanwhile, the farmers' protest against the three capitals for the state reached the 35th day.