The Andhra Pradesh Government’s move to invoke the land acquisition law in the Amaravati capital region triggered protests by farmers in front of the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) office here on Friday.
Farmers from villages in the capital region - Undavalli, Penumaka and Nidamarru, vowed to fight until the Government withdraws its plans to acquire their lands under provisions of the land acquisition ordinance.
Alleging that the Government was violating standing court orders, the farmers questioned the legal sanctity of the land acquisition notification issued on Friday. “The court has given orders in our favour. It allowed us to cultivate our lands. How can the Government go ahead with land acquisition?” said Bose Reddy, a farmer from Undavalli.
Jayamma, a farmer from Nidamarru broke down in tears, as she spoke about their woes. “The Government is playing with our lives. We are dependent on this soil. We have no other means of income. We don’t see a better deal in what the Government is offering us,” she said.
The protesters raised slogans against Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and distributed vegetables to onlookers. Congress Capital Region Committee convenor Malladi Vishnu, Congress leaders Kolanukonda Shivaji, CPI(M) Capital Region Committee convenor Ch. Babu Rao, farmer leaders Vangala Subba Rao and others spoke at the protest.
