Amravati: As the protests continue against the three capital cities proposal, a protester fell at the feet of Deputy Superintendent of Police(DSP) Veera Reddy in Mandadam of Amravati district. He in turn fell at the feet of the protester.
It has been over three weeks now that the farmers have come out on the streets to protest against the GN Rao-led expert committee's report recommending three capitals for Andhra Pradesh.
The farmers blocked roads and raised slogans against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy even as they questioned the legality of the committee.
The expert committee has recommended the Andhra Pradesh government to have decentralised development by having three capital cities for the legislature, executive and judiciary and put the available resources to best use taking into consideration concerns on environment and for balanced regional growth.
Addressing the media, the committee members had said that Visakhapatnam will be the executive capital from where the Secretariat will function and will also have the Chief Minister's Office, while Amaravati will be the legislative capital and Kurnool will have the High Court with one Bench each at Amaravati and Visakhapatnam.
The budget and winter sessions of the Assembly will be held at Amaravati and Visakhapatnam, and the Raj Bhavan and the Assembly will be located between Mangalagiri and Nagarjuna Univesity which is not flood-prone.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, earlier, had said the state may have three capitals and suggested that decentralisation may be done. While speaking during a discussion on capital, Reddy cited the example of South Africa and said that the mindset of capital being at same place should change.
"Decentralised (capital) is a good concept. South Africa has three capitals. We too should change. We may set up legislative capital here (Amaravati). We may constitute Assembly here. We may set up Executive capital at Visakhapatnam. Officials may start working from there. High court may be set up in Kurnool. Thus legislative, executive, and judicial capitals may be set up at different places. We are in a condition to think of different possibilities. Probably, Andhra Pradesh may get three capitals," Reddy said.
Jagan stated that setting up executive capital at Visakhapatnam needs not much expenditure. "That city has all facilities for employees to work. One metro rail is enough. We have to think seriously. For that sake, we already have constituted a committee. That committee is studying. It may submit its report within a week or 10 days. The committee is preparing a detailed report. We have to discuss in depth on it, take a good decision, and go ahead so that future generations will be benefitted," he said.
Replying to Reddy's statement in the state Assembly, BJP leader GVL Narasimha Rao tweeted, "Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan has made a statement today in the state assembly about his plans for the state capital. On 28th August, I had predicted in a Press Conference that the state government has plans for a new capital city. #Amaravati."
