Amaravati farmers launch 45-day 'Maha Padayatra'

The padayatra began at Tulluri village and was attended by a large number of farmers and villagers. The protesters carried flags and raised slogans opposing the shifting of the capital. The protesting farmers said they had given up 33,000 acres of their land voluntarily for the construction of the capital city, hoping for a bright future for the area.

The marathon march will end in Tirupati on 17 December.

All Opposition parties, including the Telugu Desam Party, Congress, Janasena, Left parties, and AAP, extended their solidarity to the agitators. Former Union minister Renuka Chowdary, TDP senior leaders, and former state ministers Devineni Umamaheshwara Rao and P. Pulla Rao participated in the padayatra.

TDP chief and former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announced his support for the Maha Padayatra and the agitation. He said, "Amaravati has been a much-cherished dream of not just the local residents but all the five crore people of Andhra Pradesh. The farmers, who sacrificed 34,000 acres of their ancestral lands, have been waging a relentless and inspiring struggle for the past 685 days."

The former Chief Minister expressed his party's support and solidarity for the 45-day padayatra. He said all sections of people should come forward to support the farmers' protest and prevent the state from plunging into permanent darkness.

Mr. Naidu said the farmers had given up their lands for the noble cause of constructing a great capital for all the people of the state. He lauded the Amaravati farmers for continuing their struggle despite harassment from the government and the police. The present rulers launched vicious propaganda, hurled abuses, and caused humiliation to the protesters right from the beginning. But still, the farmers remained steadfast and have now launched their Maha Padayatra with unswerving and unshakeable confidence, he said.