Amid stiff resistance, Amaravati farmers put Maha Padayatra on hold 

YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSRCP government has been pushing for three capitals: Kurnool as the judicial capital, Vijayawada as the legislative capital, and Visakhapatnam as the administrative capital.

The farmers had handed over vast swathes of land to develop Amaravati as the state’s capital.

The High Court of Andhra Pradesh is expected to deliver its judgment on a petition the yatra organisers have filed against the government and the police for creating hurdles to their march.

In an interim order issued on Friday, 21 October, the high court directed the police to ensure the smooth conduct of the yatra. The court also said it would deliver the final verdict on Thursday, 27 October.

After the court’s interim order, the police insisted the farmers show their identification cards. The police also prevented others who had come to express solidarity with the agitating farmers.

Farmers alleged police excesses and on Saturday, 22 October, paused the march and decided to wait for the court’s final order.

Tension in Rajamahendravaram

The farmers faced stiff opposition from pro-three-capital advocates as they entered Rajahmundry — officially known as Rajamahendravaram — four days ago.

YSRCP workers and activists of the local joint action committee for decentralisation took out a counter rally as the farmers’ padayatra, supported by the TDP and other parties, reached Azad Chowk.

Both groups raised provocative slogans, which culminated in the pelting of stones, footwear and bottles at each other. The police put up barricades and had a tough time maintaining law and order.

Following the incident, the farmers moved a lunch-motion petition in the high court, seeking a directive to provide security to their yatra.

No rival groups in close proximity: HC

In its interim order, the high court maintained that there was no bar on opposing views. It directed the police to ensure that rival groups did not come in close proximity to the farmers.

The court also limited the number of participants to 600 participants and capped the number of vehicles to four. The police were also told to issue ID cards to the farmers and to ensure that no provocative statements were made by any group.

The supporters of the padayatra could extend solidarity by standing on either side of the road, but should not join the farmers, the court ordered.

Violations galore, says government

During the hearing of the case, the government sought to review the permission granted for the Maha Padayatra, saying they were several violations of an earlier court order.

Advocate General  Sriram Subramanyam told the high court that the Amaravati farmers were visiting the houses of three-capital supporters and abusing them.

“The numbers are beyond the capacity permitted by the court. Inflammatory speeches are being made. Abusive language is used. Convoys of hundreds of cars are used to make political speeches.  It is leading towards a public law and order situation, affecting the social harmony of the state and its people,” the advocate general submitted before the high court.

“The police want strict compliance with the orders of the court. The police are finding it extremely difficult to regulate and control. The police have already filed an interlocutory application, seeking the withdrawal of the permission granted to the yatra,” Advocate General told the high court,” he added.

Save Andra Pradesh campaign

Amaravati farmers took out the Maha Padayatra with the slogan, ‘Build Amaravati, Save Andhra Pradesh,’ on September 12. It would conclude at Arasavalli in Srikakulam district on November 11 after passing through 16 districts.

The Maha Padayatra was launched as the farmers’ stir for a single capital completed 1,000 days. The yatra was to mount pressure on the Jagan Mohan Reddy government to drop its three capitals plan.

Two Joint Action Committees (JACs) in support of the three capitals plan were formed in Kurnool and Visakhapatnam to counter the farmers.