BJP against capital change

Amaravati: State BJP president Kanna Lakshminarayana has asked the YSRCP government not to shift capital from Amaravati.

Addressing farmers and landowners at Tulluru village in Amaravati on Tuesday, Lakshminarayana criticised the state government for taking hasty decisions on key issues that could impact the growth of the state.

"BJP favours development of all 13 districts but the state should have only one capital," the BJP leader said, adding that he was ready to fight on behalf of the farmers if need be. He asked Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy to give clarity on the fate of Amaravati capital as a responsible chief minister.

The then government took a decision that Amaravati is capital after the state bifurcation and the then Opposition also supported the same in the Assembly, Lakshminarayana said, clarifying that while in the Congress at that time he had also supported the decision.

The BJP leader reminded Jagan of his statement in the past that the capital would not be shifted. The government was going back in every issue, he said.

"I have written a letter to the Chief Minister on the hardships of farmers and poorer sections in the capital, but there was no action from the government," he added.

"If there is any corruption, the government should take action instead of crying on the issue," he said. BJP MP Sujana Chowdary said the capital is not a shirt which can be changed frequently. He said the talk on flood threat to Amravati had no scientific basis.

He said it was unfortunate that all development activities including construction of Sri Venkateswara Temple have been stopped. Tobacco Board Chairman Yadlapati Raghunath Babu, former minister Ravela Kishore Babu and several leaders were present. The local farmers explained their hardships to the leaders.