VISAKHAPATNAM: The Maha Padayatra of Amaravati farmers, which halted abruptly at Ramachandrapuram on October 23 last year, resumed on Friday and arrived at Arasavalli Temple, its destination in Srikakulam district on Sunday morning.
Around 300 farmers, mostly women, came in cars and buses. After performing pujas at the Sun Temple in Arasavalli, they visited Srikurmam Temple. Around the afternoon, they reached Visakhapatnam and had the darshan of Lord Narasimha Swamy at Simhachalam.
Local farmers and TD members welcomed Amaravati farmers on their arrival at Arasavalli. After having the darshan, farmers raised slogans “Save Amaravati Save Andhra Pradesh” before departing for Srikurmam.
The event passed off peacefully without any untoward incidents.
Talking to reporters, the leader of the Amaravati farmers Rayapati Sailaja maintained that they had to stop the Maha Padayatra after the ruling party created several hurdles. “The MLC election results in north Andhra have made it clear that people are not interested in three capitals,” she underlined.
Sailaja asserted that whatever hurdles the ruling party may create, Amaravati will remain the capital of Andhra Pradesh.
Another farmer said Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy is trying to create tensions between regions by proposing three capitals. He regretted that instead of honouring High Court orders, the CM had moved a petition in Supreme Court, creating hardships for Amaravati farmers.
“Jagan is spending government money to fight the cases, whereas we are depending on donations to pay the courts and lawyers,” the farmer pointed out.
