It has been exactly 300 days since the farmers in the capital region of Amaravati launched their agitation demanding that the Jagan government drop the three capitals plan and retain Amaravati as the only capital.
The Telugu Desam Party, which has been pitching for Amaravati as the capital city for obvious reasons, made all efforts to make the 300-day agitation a huge success.
The party organised rallies and demonstrations by Amaravati farmers and also by party workers in different parts of the state.
While TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu stayed back in Hyderabad instead of taking part in the agitation, his son and TDP general secretary Nara Lokesh, however, visited a few villages in Amaravati and addressed agitating farmers.
Extending his support to the demand of the farmers for only one capital for one state, Lokesh alleged that the chief minister was trying to kill the “baby” in its infant stage itself.
He charged Jagan with having utter disregard for the rights and sacrifices of farmers who gave away 34,000 acres to the capital.
Lokesh also visited and addressed agitators at Yerrabalem, Krishnayapalem and other villages in Amaravati capital area.
The TDP activists took up demonstrations in various other places including Tirupati, Anantapur, Rajahmundry, Kurnool etc.
However, the YSRC government sought to play down the agitation by farmers and refused to acknowledge it.
State minister for municipal administration and urban development Botsa Satyanaranaya said the so-called agitation was a flop show by paid artistes of Amaravati in the name of farmers.
“The people are overwhelmingly supporting the three capitals plan of the Jagan Mohan Reddy government. These bunch of paid artistes don’t have people’s support. What is there to celebrate the 300 days? It is like conducting 100-days function for a flop film,” Botsa said.