The politically sensitive and controversial Amaravati capital land issue in Andhra Pradesh has taken another dramatic turn, with a section of farmers knocking on the doors of YSR Congress Party president and former Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, who is known to be strongly opposed to Amaravati as the capital.
At a time when the coalition government is accelerating Amaravati development works after returning to power, a section of capital region farmers on Tuesday approached Jagan, seeking his intervention against fresh land acquisition efforts by the government.
Farmers from Penumaka, Undavalli and several other villages within the capital region met Jagan Mohan Reddy at his Tadepalli camp office and expressed serious concern over the government’s current land acquisition policies.
They alleged that officials were proceeding with acquisitions without adequate prior notice or transparency and were pressuring them to surrender additional lands.
The farmers argued that they had already contributed substantial land parcels earlier for the construction of the capital city and that further acquisition would completely destroy their livelihoods.
APCRDA officials reportedly rushed to organise emergency gram sabhas in capital villages on the very day the farmers were preparing to meet Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Several farmers openly alleged that the government had strategically scheduled the gram sabhas to prevent or divert them from meeting the opposition leader.
However, the farmers strongly resisted the move by boycotting the gram sabhas altogether.
Ignoring official appeals, they refused to attend the meetings and instead directly questioned the notices issued by the authorities.
The unexpected protest reportedly left CRDA officials in an uncomfortable position.
With strong resistance emerging from villagers, officials were unable to conduct the meetings smoothly and allegedly had to leave midway, creating tension in the area.
While the government maintains that all land acquisition activities are being carried out legally and in accordance with prescribed procedures, affected farmers say their future and survival are at stake.
Officials insist that notices have been issued strictly as per rules for the development of the capital city. However, farming families dependent entirely on these lands fear displacement and economic uncertainty.
The farmers said they were not against Amaravati as the capital, but were opposed to the forcible acquisition of their fertile lands in Undavalli and Penumaka, which are closer to the national highway and command high market value. They have decided not to give away their lands for the Amaravati capital region.
Jagan assured them that if the government forcibly acquired their lands, the YSRCP, after coming to power in 2029, would return the lands and do justice to them.
