Though all political parties, who opposed YS Jaganmohan Reddy’s three-capital formula and practically stopped capital region Amaravati works remained as silent spectators, it was only Amaravati farmers who fought against government’s policies till he was defeated in the last year’s elections. All of them supported TDP, Jana Sena and BJP in the elections, expecting they would resolve their problems.
However, they were shocked that the coalition government also continued the same negligent attitude towards them. Though Chandrababu Naidu-led government made hectic moves for construction of Amaravati capital, allotting valuable lands to several corporate houses and taking up massive building constructions, they were angry that hardly any concert steps were taken to settle long-standing farmers’ issues.
First time they raised their voice against Chandrababu Naidu-led government, alleging that it has been treating farmers and farm-labourers as `second-class citizens’. They also raised their voice against corrupt officials in CRDA and deplored that they are not being made participants in the Amaravati development activities. They deplored that practically no steps are taken to create employment to them.
This time they have made several demands openly to the government. The Amaravati Rythu JAC meeting held in Guntur on Sunday made several resolutions on the government’s negligent policy towards the farmers of Amaravati. They have resolved that the government is not paying attention and that corruption has increased in the CRDA.
They have warned that if the government does not respond within ten days, they will announce future action. They alleged that even though the new government has been in power for almost 15 months, many problems related to the farmers have not been resolved. They said that despite several petitions submitted to CRDA officials and Municipal Minister Dr P. Narayana, and even in grievance conferences, the issue has not been resolved till date.
Expressing anger over not being invited to the inauguration of the CRDA office, JAC President Madala Srinivas demanded that farmers who donated their lands be appointed as members of the committees being formed in the capital region.
Farmers and farm laborers expressed concern over the issue of assigned farmers, regularization of rent payment, roadblock plots, plot allocation issue, village council issue, irrelevant FSI policy, and other issues, and the negligence of the officials and government towards the corrupt actions of the subordinate officials.
They said that the Amaravati Joint Action Committee (JAC), which fought at the forefront of the Amaravati movement, is facing severe pressure and that the JAC is meeting in Guntur today and making several demands. They revealed that they are unanimously approving these.
