It has been more than three weeks since the farmers of Amaravati have halted their padayatra to Arasavilli in Srikakulam district to highlight their demand for retention of the capital city of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravati.
The farmers, who were supposed to reach Arasavilli now, announced suspension of their padayatra at Ramachandrapuram on October 22, following stiff resistance from the YSR Congress party leaders and cadre and restrictions by the police.
It appears the farmers have now lost their steam, as many of them are said to have fallen sick in the last three weeks and others are not able to move further due to stringent police restrictions.
Added to this, the high court also on Wednesday refused to allow replacement of sick and tired farmers with others. This led to the talk that the farmers might withdraw their yatra and redesign their agitational programme.
Soon after the Ramachandrapuram incident, the farmers moved the high court seeking relaxation of restrictions and said they would resume their padayatra only after getting a positive judgement from the high court. They first moved a single judge bench, which allowed the padayatra with certain conditions.
Later, the farmers moved the division bench of the high court, which refused to change the single judge order, which said not more than 600 farmers should take part in the yatra and those who want to express their solidarity could do so by standing on either side of the road, but not join the yatra.
The court also refused to permit the organisers to replace some of the farmers with others and asked them to display their identity cards when the police ask for the same.
The organisers should also not include more than four vehicles including the chariot of the god during the padayatra.
Subsequently, Amaravati Parirakshana Samithi moved the high court on behalf of the farmers with a review petition, stating that at least 2,000 farmers be allowed to take part in the yatra, so that those who fall sick or get tired could be replaced by others.
On Wednesday, the high court said there is no merit in the review petition of the farmers and it cannot be considered. It also refused to entertain the petition filed by Amaravati Parirakshana Samithi, saying it has no locus standi and the court wont’ allow the petitions of third parties.
Now, it remains to be seen what the farmers would do now – will they call off their yatra and go back to Amaravati or go ahead up to Srikakulam.