AP CM’s remark on capital shift to Vizag triggers debate
YSRCP activists alleged the Opposition is trying to put spokes to the three-capital plan; detractors suspect a political game plan
image for illustrative purpose
As elections are just a year away, the government wants to lure the people of North Andhra with the empty rhetoric, say Amaravati Farmers’ JAC. The agitating farmers are also furious over the selling of residential plots developed on the sites acquired from the farmers for establishing the capital
Visakhapatnam: While the rank and file of YSRCP and those in realty business hailed the decision of Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy to relocate to Visakhapatnam from September with his family, the Opposition parties as well as the agitating farmers of Amaravati have termed it as an attempt to divert attention from the ongoing probe into former Minister Y S Vivekananda Reddy’s murder by the CBI.
Immediately after the announcement, Industries and IT Minister Gudivada Amarnath and Deputy Chief Minister Mutyala Raju said the announcement will make Visakhapatnam the seat of administration as declared before, but detractors of YSRCP suspected a political game plan behind it.
“How can he relocate to Vizag when the case on trifurcation of capital is subjudice,” asked TDP national president N Chandrababu Naidu at a public rally at Giddalur in Prakasam district as part of ‘Edemi Karma Mana Rastraniki’ programme (what fate is this to our State). YSRCP activists say the Chief Minister is committed to decentralised development by creating three capitals whereas the Opposition, they alleged, is trying to put spokes to the three-capital plan.
Opposition parties say making Vizag, the largest city in Andhra Pradesh the executive capital, is not possible as long as the case against AP High Court order to develop Amaravati as per the Master Plan is subjudice. The State is also yet to table required bills on three capitals in the legislature. They say it is not possible to shift the government employees in the middle of the academic year as they need to admit their children in educational institutions and find suitable houses for their stay. “The decision, if implemented, will definitely raise the realty prices. Already post Covid-19 phase they are appreciating slowly,” P Sanyasi Rao, a real estate agent of Madhurawada, said.
On the other hand, G Tirupati Rao, co-convener of Amaravati Farmers’ JAC, which is agitating in support of retaining Amaravati as the single capital of the State, said as elections are just a year away, the government wants to lure the people of North Andhra with the ‘empty rhetoric’ by the Chief Minister on trifurcation of the capital. The JAC is also furious over the selling of residential plots developed on the sites acquired from the farmers for establishing the capital.
Opposition activists say the Chief Minister instead of talking about making Vizag the executive capital has only said at the meeting he addressed after laying foundation stone of Mulapeta Port in Srikakulam district he will relocate with his family to the port city in September. He may open his camp office, for which there may not be any legal hurdle, an activist said.
“This is nothing but a campaign to divert attention from the arrest of Chief Minister’s uncle Y S Bhaskar Reddy and grilling of Kadapa MP Avinash Reddy in the Vivekananda Reddy case by the CBI,” CPI State secretary K Ramakrishna, said.
