Decentralization of capital would damage the economy: CPM

Vijayawada: The proposal of decentralization of the capital and the shifting of capital from Amaravathi to another city would result in a severe damage to the economy, said CPM State secretary P Madhu while inaugurating the 24-hour fast at Dharna Chowk here on Friday demanded the continuation of the capital city at Amaravthi.

Shifting of a capital from one city to another on whims and fancies is not a good policy and it will harm the economy, he added.

CPM leaders Ch Babu Rao, K Durga Rao, Satya Babu, Ranga Rao, Miravali, Peddiraju, K Saroja, Ravi and Sitaramaiah went on the 24-hour fast.

Addressing the gathering, Madhu said that if the Chief Minister wanted to develop Visakhapatnam, more companies and institutions could be established there.

He said if the TDP leaders indulged in corruption, it should be proved and the guilty should be punished.

"There is no point in shifting the capital to take revenge against the TDP leaders," he said and added that ultimately the farmers would suffer in the end.

The people of 10 districts were unhappy with the decisions taken by the government, he pointed out.

MLC Ashok Babu said that the YSRCP government hurled a number of allegations on the capital city of Amaravati and when they were not proved, it now wants to shift the capital to Visakhapatnam.

Amaravati JAC leaders Siva Reddy, G Tirupati Rao, Sudhakar, Anumolu Gandhi, Lorry Owners Association president Eswara Rao, VV Krishna Rao, CPI city secretary Donepudi Sankar and members of various associations, women's organizations, farmers of Amaravati and others expressed solidarity with the fasting CPM leaders.