Botsa asks intellectuals to question Amaravati marchers

KAKINADA: Education minister Botsa Satyanarayana on Saturday again criticised the padayatra by farmers from Amravati to Arasavilli opposing the three capitals proposed by the YSRC government.

Participating in a round table meeting presided over by retired professor P. Chandrasekhar on decentralisation of development, Botsa reiterated that Telugu Desam agents in the garb of farmers are undertaking the padayatra. He wanted intellectuals and people to question the real intention of these “so-called farmers”.

The minister wanted people to even prevent the padayatra from being taken out. He suggested that joint action committees be formed at constituency and town level to create awareness among people about the importance of decentralised development in Andhra Pradesh.

Botsa maintained that the state government is committed to development of Amaravathi. He asked its marching farmers what they would lose if Visakhapatnam is made the executive capital.

“Farmers on the padayatra are shouting slogans favouring former chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and his son Lokesh. What is their real intention,” the minister asked. He maintained that YSRC government led by Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy does not believe in developing just one region or one caste or religion. “Our CM wants to develop all regions irrespective of castes and religions,” he observed.

Botsa questioned the stand of Bharatiya Janata Party in the present situation. He pointed out that the BJP had passed a resolution saying one vote-two states. “BJP is following double standards on the Amaravathi issue,” he maintained.

Speaking at the same meeting, roads and buildings minister Dadisetty Ramalingeswara Rao asked whether it would be justified if he, along with 50,000 people, undertakes a padayatra from Annavaram to Tirupati for setting up the AP capital at Kakinada.

“Are such moves justified? Experts, students and youth should hold a debate on centralisation and decentralisation,” he stated.

Jaggampeta MLA Jyothula Chantibabu declared that all areas need to be developed. Kakinada MP Vanga Gita said decentralisation will lead to all round development of Andhra Pradesh.

Indian Medical Association Kakinada president Dr. Kiran, hotels association president Y. Venkatesh, JNTUK student J. Rajkumar, port-based trader B. Rammurthy and several others supported the decentralisation move.

Former minister K. Kannababu, BC welfare minister Ch. Srinivasa Venugopalakrishna and Pithapuram MLA P. Dorababu were among those present at the meeting.