It is YSRCP which meted out serious injustice to Amaravati. YS Jagan supported Amaravati as capital when he was the opposition leader, and made a sharp U-turn after ascending the throne by announcing three capitals. He justified his change of track by putting forward a strange theory of ‘equal development’ of three regions. He warned that separatism would raise its head otherwise.
It is an open secret that the real reason is different. YSRCP has been alleging that TDP leaders had bought huge tracts of lands while deciding the capital at Amaravati. They think that if the capital is continued here, TDP leaders will earn huge profits on lands, which will become the party’s war chest in 2024 elections.
Phony argument
When he was in opposition, Jagan supported acquisition of 33,000 acres for the capital. The party also made it clear that it favours Amaravati as capital before elections. There was no mention of capital in the YSRCP election manifesto. But after the election, to the shock of Amaravati farmers, he announced three capitals along with the not-so-convincing argument of ‘equal development’ of all regions. There is no guarantee that three capitals will bring in development to those regions. Only more industries and investment will create jobs and enhance livelihoods.
3-card game by YSRCP, BJP
Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself laid the stone for the capital at Amaravati, but the leaders of the same party are speaking in different tongues on its future. Party’s new state chief Somu Veerraju and Rajya Sabha MP from Uttar Pradesh GVL Narasimha Rao are supporting Jagan’s three capitals by distancing the Centre from the issue of capital. But others like former president of state unit Kanna Lakshminarayana and Y Sujana Chowdary want Amaravati as the sole capital of the state.
Is Vizag suitable?
Port city of Vizag is the only major developed city in the state and one of the top industrial cities in the country. The port adds strategic and economic clout to the city. But the 40 lakh residents are already grappling with lack of basic amenities. Being a coastal city, it is vulnerable to frequent cyclones, an example being Hudhud cyclone which wreaked havoc a few years ago. There have been objections to setting up capital in such a vulnerable city. People there are already choking with pollution caused by various industries – from port to pharma. Residents of the city also fear that the capital tag will disturb their peaceful life.