Uncertainty over Amaravati remaining the sole capital Andhra Pradesh has no definitive answer for now. People of Amaravati capital region have been staging protests against the 3 capitals decision made by the YSRCP government for the last 250 days. As pointed out by people and Amaravati farmers who had given their land for the capital of divided state, no other state in the country has three capitals. Though the government is claiming three capitals, for all practical purposes, Vizag city will be the capital of Andhra Pradesh if it has its way.
As the agitation against shifting of capital from Amaravati completed 250 days, now is the time to introspect on the effectiveness of the fight and modes of agitation by Amaravati farmers. It is true that the fight by Amaravati Parirakshana Samiti (APS or JAC) has not gone beyond sit-ins or dharnas. Either the entities which are leading the stir or the TDP which has been extending political support to it have failed to take the movement to the next level.
Fight against the policy decision should not confine itself to mere sit-ins and dharnas, it requires a two-pronged strategy. Organisers should bring in all sections of people, NGOs and other organisations into the fight. This should be supported, on the other hand, by legal fight and social media campaigns. Only a united and all-out campaign will have the potential to make the government bow down. History is proof of many such victories in the past. Let us look back at the successful agitation against the proposed thermal power plant at Sompeta.
The YS Rajasekhara Reddy government planned to set up a thermal plant on the marshlands at Sompeta in Srikakulam district. However, fearing damage to environment, the local population strongly opposed the project and began a massive protest. Without support of political parties, people carried out a massive agitation with farmers, youth, and women coming out in large numbers. Even teachers, doctors and other government employees supported the agitating locals.
Police firing, three deaths and suspension of government employees could not dampen the fighting spirit of the people. Simultaneously, they mobilized environmental experts and gathered evidence of possible destruction the proposed power plant could cause. This multi-pronged do-or-die fight by the people led the government to give up the project.
Scarce fighting spirit
Amaravati Parirakshana Samiti (APS) and TDP president Chandrababu Naidu seems to be trying to stop three capitals only through legal means. Naidu feels that his knowledge and understanding of relevant legal issues will benefit him in this effort. But the government on the other hand, has been fighting legal challenges citing the privileges of executive to take and implement decisions which it deemed fit for the public good. Overall, the fight for Amaravati has turned into just a tussle between judiciary and executive, with public opinion nowhere to be seen.
No campaign mode
It is an indisputable fact that Amaravati agitation is not as intense as it should have been. People have been merely sitting under pandals with placards for the last eight months. Though there is enough media coverage and social media posts, enough heat to sway the government’s decision is not being generated.
The state government is trying to portray the Amaravati movement as the fight by Kamma community. Amaravati Parirakshana Samiti and other entities that are leading the fight must analyze the effectiveness of their efforts to dispel that myth.
Moreover, the agitation has not crossed beyond Amaravati, not even to adjoining areas of Guntur and Vijayawada. Although Chandrababu had tried to turn it into a statewide agitation with little success, Covid and lockdowns have further dampened the spirit.
Another aspect is failure to bring in Rayalaseema people into the campaign in a big way as it is they who will be real sufferers in case Vizag becomes capital. They have to travel long distances to get work done. The agitation will become a mass movement if it can be strengthened from West Godavari to Rayalaseema. If the TDP or other umbrella organisations succeed in this effort, there is a possibility of government dropping the move citing legal obstacles as a face-saving measure. Unfortunately, both TDP and the Amaravati Parirakshana Samiti have missed this key aspect. At least now, all the stakeholders need to realize that Amaravati cannot be saved unless people of all regions and sections are roped in and the fight is intensified.
