Former Union minister and senior Congress leader Renuka Chowdary claims herself to be a true Telangana leader.
She represented Khammam parliamentary constituency twice in the past and many times, she extended her support to the Telangana movement.
So, when Renuka extended her support to the agitation by the farmers of Amaravati against the Jagan Mohan Reddy government’s decision to form three capitals with the executive capital being shifted from Amaravati to Viskahapatnam, it surprised everybody.
On Monday, Renuka tried to take out a rally to Amaravati to extend solidarity with the Amravati farmers who began their padayatra to Tirupati in support of the capital city at Amaravati.
The Congress party leaders and cadres in AP made arrangements to welcome her with Aarti and garlands at Mulapadu village.
But the police obstructed her and imposed restrictions all along the route. The police also removed the Congress flags at Ibrahimpatnam junction and threatened to arrest any party workers who try to enter Amaravati.
One wonders in what way Renuka Chowdary is concerned with the Amaravati agitation. Of course, as a Congress leader, she has every right to extend her solidarity with a cause. But taking part in a rally for Amaravati capital looks a little strange.
But she claims herself to be from Telangana and therefore, she has nothing to do whether the capital of Andhra Pradesh should be at Amaravati or Visakhapatnam, unless she has any special interests in Amaravati capital area.
Maybe, Renuka thought she has a right over Andhra Pradesh, as she represented the state in Rajya Sabha from 2012 to 2018.
She was allotted to Andhra Pradesh quota after bifurcation. She might be justifying her support to Amaravati for this reason.
As a matter of fact, Renuka Chowdary was born in Visakhapatnam and has roots there. Yet, she is opposing the shifting of capital to Visakhapatnam!