Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has asserted that his government is committed to the idea of decentralisation and termed the Maha Padayatra taken out by Amaravati farmers as a “drama”, and an “artificial agitation” for a Capital that could never be built.
“The agitation is being led by capitalist forces who had never fought against the bifurcation of the State. For over 1,000 days, a drama is being played out supporting an artificial agitation for a Capital which exists only in graphics. The agitation is a drama aimed at hurting the pride and sentiments of other backward regions in the state. For these forces, Amaravati , a dream city which can never be built, is bigger than Hyderabad!” Mr. Jagan said while speaking during a short-term discussion on decentralisation on the opening day of the monsoon session at the Andhra Pradesh Assembly on Thursday.
“I would like to make it clear again. I do not have any animosity towards the Vijayawada-Guntur region. I have not taken out the Capital and in fact, Amaravati is one of three Capitals and will be the seat of the Legislature. Even if I spend another ₹30,000 crore to ₹40,000 crore on this region with no basic infrastructure , I would never be able to provide even basic facilities like water, power and roads, etc. It is like chasing a wild dream! Andhra Pradesh extends to 1.62 lakh square spread across 3.96 crore acres and limiting all the resources to just 8 sq km radius is just sheer absurdity,” said Mr. Jagan.
