The Amaravati farmers, who are on war-path against YS Jaganmohan Reddy’s regime, for his attempt to shift Amaravati as capital of the state and continuing protests for more than four years, have now decided to give a break, due to election schedule.
They announced that they have taken this decision in view of the `code of conduct’ coming into force. The coordination committee and Amaravati Rajdhani Aikya Karyacharana Samiti said that they are announcing a temporary break as per the instructions of the Election Commission and the police. A press release has been issued to this effect.
On December 17, 2019, after CM Jagan’s announcement of three capitals in the assembly, large-scale farmers’ protests started in the capital’s villages. The Amaravati movement continued unabated for 1560 days without a break, no matter how many disturbances and oppression they faced.
The movement was suspended from Monday as the general election code came into effect. Farmers continued their protest at their homes even after the Covid 19 lockdown period, started from December 25, 2020. Although the movement slowed down till October 2021, later a padayatra was organized from Nelapadu to Tirupati under the name of ‘Nyayasthanam to Devasthanam’.
The march from Amaravati to Visakha for the second time was obstructed by the ranks of the ruling party, but continued till East Godavari district. According to Rythu Ikya Karyacharana Samiti, the continuation of the movement for almost four years and four months is a history.
It succeeded to withstand several severe hardships and obstructions like Covid 19 lockdowns, cyclones, floods, police brutality, police cases, arrests, harassment, caning and bullets. The government’s repressive measures failed to dilute their spirit of struggle.
They continued their struggle no matter how many repressive steps the YCP government resorted against them. Till now more than 600 cases have been registered against 2600 people and 250 farmers have died in these four years.
