Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh) [India], July 1 (ANI): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu launched a scathing attack on the YSRCP and its president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy during the NTR Bharosa Pension Distribution – Praja Vedika programme at Punnapuvaripalem village in Chillakur mandal, asserting that the state needs only one permanent capital and accusing the previous government of creating uncertainty over Amaravati.
CM Naidu sought a show of hands from the gathering, saying the overwhelming public response reflected the people’s desire for a single capital. He alleged that while the people wanted Amaravati, the YSRCP did not support the idea of a permanent capital.
The Chief Minister recalled that before the 2019 elections, Jagan had publicly supported Amaravati as the capital if the Assembly was first shifted from Hyderabad. Trusting that assurance, he said, 29,000 farmers voluntarily pooled around 33,000 acres of land for the Amaravati capital project.
However, he alleged that after coming to power in 2019, Jagan went back on his promise, halted the capital project and introduced the three-capitals proposal, creating uncertainty that stalled Andhra Pradesh’s development for five years.
CM Naidu accused the previous YSRCP government of conspiring to obstruct Amaravati’s development. He alleged that sugarcane fields in the capital region were deliberately set on fire and that attempts were later made to blame the government for the incidents.
The Chief Minister said the three-capitals proposal had become a source of embarrassment for Andhra Pradesh. He noted that people from Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Karnataka proudly identify Chennai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru as their respective capitals, whereas Andhra Pradesh was ridiculed because people could not clearly say which city was the state’s capital under the previous government’s policy.
CM Naidu said the people rejected the YSRCP’s approach in the 2024 Assembly elections by reducing the party from power to just 11 Assembly seats. He said the verdict reflected public support for a stable and permanent capital.
The Chief Minister said investors had expressed concerns that future governments could once again alter the capital policy unless Amaravati received permanent legal protection. He said his government persuaded the Centre to provide statutory backing for Amaravati, adding that both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha passed the necessary legislation, although he alleged that the YSRCP did not support the move.
CM Naidu accused the YSRCP of spreading “poison” against Amaravati and described its campaign against a single capital as highly irresponsible. He also mocked Jagan’s recent remarks on the capital issue, saying even he could not understand what Jagan meant by his latest stand, which he referred to as “MAVIGUN.”
Referring to recent developments, CM Naidu alleged that YSRCP supporters had organised a “march with rowdies” towards Amaravati. He said a leader must stand by his word and maintain consistency, accusing Jagan of repeatedly changing his position on the capital issue.
He urged people to reflect on whether such inconsistent leadership would benefit the state, asserting that Andhra Pradesh’s future depended on stable governance and a permanent capital at Amaravati. (ANI)
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