AP minister vows to stop Maha Padayatra from entering Srikakulam

AMARAVATI: Andhra Pradesh Minister of Fisheries and Animal Husbandry Seediri Appalaraju strongly opposed the proposed entry of the 'Amaravathi Maha Padayatra' into the north coastal Andhra. The 'Maha Padayatra' was launched by farmers and the JAC of Amaravati on Monday to press for their demand to continue 'Amaravati' as the state capital.

Appalaraju denounced the padayatra stating that it would hurt several sentiments of the people residing in that region. Speaking at a meeting held in Palasa, under the auspices of non-political JAC in support of Visakhapatnam as the executive capital, the Minister said that there was a necessity to bring awareness at the village level on the idea and advantages of the three capitals.

Taking a dig at the opposition, the minister also alleged that Chandrababu Naidu was the reason behind the decision of Maha Padayatra. He accused the former chief minister of provoking the farmers to stage yatras against the decisions of the government. He clarified that he would meet the MLAs of North Coastal Andhra and vowed that the padayatra would not be allowed to enter Srikakulam.

Calling Srikakulam a land known for revolution, Seediri Appalaraju urged the people to resist the Maha Padayatra, which, he said, was being held as a ploy to stop the development in the North Coastal Andhra region.