Farmers of Amaravati, who have been agitating for the construction of capital city in their region for the last four and a half years, have announced a temporary break for their agitation, because of elections to the state assembly and Lok Sabha in Andhra Pradesh.
In a statement to the media on Monday, Amaravati Rajadhani Joint Action Committee (JAC) and Farmers’ Coordination Committee declared that they were suspending the agitation for the time being, as per the suggestions given by the police in accordance with the Election Commission of India directions.
The JAC wrote to all is members – women, farmers, agriculture labourers, Dalits and minorities, legal and finance committee members and camp organisers – asking them to withdraw all modes of agitation for the time being, till the elections are completed.
Apparently, the JAC leaders were told that since their agitation is directly against the YSR Congress party government led by chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, it amounts to helping the opposition parties, particularly, the TDP. So, they should suspend the agitation, for now.
Sources said the JAC leaders are likely to take a plunge into direct political action campaigning for the TDP in the coming elections. The farmers have also reportedly mobilised big money to help the TDP candidates in and around Amaravati.
“Even their NRI children have entered into direct action and have been campaigning in favour of the TDP on social media. Perhaps, that is the reason why the EC asked the farmers to suspend the agitation,” sources said.