Irate Amaravathi Farmers Pelt Stones At MLA's Car

Protestors demanding Amaravathi as the Andhra Pradesh capital on Tuesday hurled stones at the vehicle of Macharla MLA P Ramakrishna Reddy at Chinakakani village in Krishna district.

When the protestors tried to stop the MLA's vehicle and he did not halt, they turned irate and hurled stones at it. They also staged a dharna on the Chennai-Kolkata national highway demanding that the AP government withdraw its decision to shift the capital from Amaravathi. The gunmen of the MLA got into a heated argument with the farmers, and later the police entered the scene and resorted to a lathi charge to disperse the farmers.

The dharna led to a huge traffic jam 10 km long on two sides of the highway. State cabinet minister Adimapu Suresh was also struck in the jam.

The Political Joint Action Committee had called for a blockade of the national highway today to press for Amaravathi to be retained as the State capital.

Meanwhile, the agitation of the Amaravathi farmers against the trifurcation of the capital entered its 21st day today. Disappointed by the fact that the Chief Minister has not made a statement yet assuring them of their interests being protected, and ministers and MLAs making comments calling them (the farmers) paid artistes and real-estate agents, the farmers have been getting increasingly edgy.

The police placed MPs of Guntur and Vijayawada, both belonging to the TDP, and other TDP leaders under house arrest to prevent them from joining the protests.

Guntur MP Galla Jayadev was placed under house arrest in Guntur. Tension prevailed at the MP's house as he questioned the police action and entered into an argument with officials. The MP, along with his followers, tried to come out of the house, but the police pushed them back and locked the main gate. Jayadev, who is also the TDP parliamentary party leader, resented the police action and said that the protests for Amaravathi would continue unabated.

Vijayawada MP Kesineni Nani was also placed under house arrest in Vijayawada to prevent him from participating in the protests along with the farmers.