BJP remains silent on AP three-capital row as protest enters 250th day

Even as the protest staged by farmers of Amaravati against the Andhra Pradesh government’s decision to have three capitals entered the 250th day on Sunday (August 23), the BJP, which initially opposed the move, has remained silent over the issue, Hindustan Times reported.

The protesters organised the Rana Bheri programme on the completion of 250 days of their stir against the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government in the state by beating drums and blowing trumpets. Though opposition parties, including the Telugu Desam Party, Congress, CPI (M) and CPI, extended their support to the protesters, BJP stayed away from the stir.

Two weeks ago, BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav on August 11 wondered why Andhra Pradesh needed three capital cities, when a state like Uttar Pradesh, four times more in population, had only one. He also warned that the three capitals should not become a means for “triple corruption”.

The YSRCP government had, earlier this year, brought in the AP Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of All Regions Bill, 2020, to give shape to its plan of having three capitals for the state, with the executive capital in Visakhapatnam, Legislative capital in Amaravati and judicial capital in Kurnool.