Pawan Kalyan Accuses YSRCP of Targeting Amaravati Land Donors in Assembly Debate
Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan made serious allegations on Saturday, claiming that farmers who voluntarily donated land for the development of Amaravati as Andhra Pradesh's capital faced systematic harassment and attacks during the previous YSRCP administration. Speaking during a heated assembly debate on the Amaravati resolution, Kalyan asserted that these land donors—including vulnerable women and Dalit farmers—were subjected to police action simply for questioning why the capital's development had been abruptly halted.
Farmers' Plight and Political Response
"Farmers who gave up their lands for their children's future were forced to protest when capital works were stalled," Kalyan emphasized during the legislative session. He detailed how these distressing incidents prompted his Jana Sena party to escalate the matter with the BJP national leadership, resulting in a definitive alliance decision that Amaravati would remain the sole capital of Andhra Pradesh.
IT and Education Minister Nara Lokesh intensified the political confrontation by demanding that former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy clarify his position on Amaravati. Lokesh pointedly questioned the YSRCP chief's absence during this crucial debate, noting that neither Reddy nor any of the party's eleven MLAs attended the session addressing what he called "a critical issue concerning five crore people."
Ministers Decry Capital Uncertainty
Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav expressed regret that the state found itself debating Amaravati's legal status as capital twelve years after its initial establishment, calling the situation unfortunate and unnecessary. Agriculture Minister K Atchennaidu added a political dimension, suggesting that had voters made different choices in the 2019 elections, the state might have avoided this prolonged uncertainty and controversy.
YSRCP Counters with Allegations of Political Theater
Meanwhile, former minister and senior YSRCP leader Perni Venkatramaiah (Nani) launched a strong counterattack against the assembly resolution, dismissing it as "calculated political drama" designed to mislead the public. He accused the current government of deliberately ignoring pressing issues affecting farmers, state finances, and governance while focusing on what he characterized as a symbolic gesture.
Nani questioned the procedural credibility of the resolution, asking why the legislative council hadn't been convened if the true intention was to grant legal sanctity to Amaravati. "Any law requires approval from both Houses of the legislature," he argued, labeling the assembly's move as "incomplete and misleading."
The YSRCP leader further clarified that his party never opposed Amaravati as capital in principle. "We only opposed corruption, financial mismanagement, and injustice to farmers carried out in its name," Nani claimed, attempting to reframe the narrative around accountability rather than opposition to the capital itself.
The assembly debate revealed deep political divisions over Amaravati's future, with accusations flying between the ruling alliance and opposition regarding farmer welfare, procedural legitimacy, and political motivations behind the capital resolution.
