The
Andhra Pradesh High Court ordered the government and police forces to allow the protestors to protest peacefully against the action of the government.
The
Andhra Pradesh High Court directed the state government not to shift any of its offices to any other place and argued to maintain status quo on the issues.
The 2019–2024 Amaravati protests, simply known as Amaravati protests, are ongoing demonstrations in the Indian state of
Andhra Pradesh triggered by the idea of changing the one capital of Amaravati already identified and developed partially, to three capitals of Amaravati,
Visakhapatnam and
Kurnool by the
Government of Andhra Pradesh. This led to concerns that the decision would create chaos and insecurity for farmers who gave their fertile agricultural lands to the government in 29 villages of
Guntur district. The protests began in
Mandadam,
Thullur,
Uddandarayunipalem on 18 December 2019. In a few days, the protests spread across
Andhra Pradesh Capital Region, in
Andhra Pradesh.[36] On 17 December 2020, series of events were done to mark the protests' anniversary.[37]
Background
2014–2018
The
Andhra Pradesh Capital Region boasts of one of the oldest habitations in
India, going back at least two millennia, and is associated with historic dynasties like
Satavahanas and cities such as
Dhanyakataka.[38] The last government, wanted to capitalize this region into world-class capital city and wanted to promote glory, rich culture, historical and religional treasure of
Andhra Pradesh.[39] It was designed by the Singaporean company, with the masterplan being prepared by two
Singapore government appointed consultants and other international consultants in association with both governments in order to develop India's Singapore.[40][41]
The foundation stone was laid for
Amaravati, by the
Prime Minister of IndiaNarendra Modi,
Former Chief ministerNara Chandrababu Naidu and the
Former Chief Justice of IndiaRanjan Gogoi has laid foundation stone for
Andhra Pradesh High Court at
Amaravati.[42][43] However, the Capital city was planned in rich fertile coastal plains on the banks of
Krishna River; about 60 km from
Bay of Bengal and said to be designed to have 51% of green spaces and 10% of water bodies. Thus, the new riverfront capital took away eminently cultivable land from farmers.[44] For the first time in India, the farmers of
Guntur and
Krishna districts had given 33,000 acres of land, to the
Government of Andhra Pradesh on land pooling for Amaravati.[45][46][47] It had tied up around Rs 17,500 crore with the Housing and Urban Development Corporation,
World Bank,
Andhra Bank,
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and planned to raise the balance through public-private partnerships, investments, bonds, lease rental discounting also, it had estimated a budget of over Rs 1 lakh crore for the greenfield capital city.[48][49] The
Government of India, has granted only 2,500 crore and further promised to grant more in future.[50][51] But, the present government had stopped major projects and contracts backed by
APCRDA and Andhra Pradesh Development Corporation Limited (ADCL), stating that the previous government has committed
Abuse of information,
Insider trading on several properties in
Amaravati.[52][53] Many construction works and road works at amaravati have come to a grinding halt, even as those undertaken by private companies continue albeit slowly, as the government had appointed several committees for review.[54]
2019–present
In July 2019, the
World bank dropped the $300 million Amaravati capital project, and released statement that says "India withdrawn request for financing Amaravati project."[55][56][57] After the World bank, Beijing-based
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank has also withdrawn $200 million funding for the
Amaravati capital city project and leds the state government into financial crisis for construction of Amaravati.[58][59][60]
In November 2019, the Singapore consortium comprising Ascendas-Singbridge and
Sembcorp withdrew from the capital city startup area project, after the state government decided not to proceed with the project owing to its other priorities.[61][62] On building the capital city at Amaravati, Urban development minister
Botsa Satyanarayana had said: "Our priority is not to build
London or
Paris. It is not our priority and not in our capacity also. It is not possible for us to build" and had stated that the Amaravati region was not conducive for building a greenfield capital city and that it was prone to floods.[63][64] Citing the financial condition of
Andhra Pradesh due to the economic slowdown and alleged misdeeds of the previous regime, Finance minister
Buggana Rajendranath had expressed inability to continue work on several large projects of Amaravati conceived by the previous government.[65][66]
In December 2019, Chief minister
Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy announced that the Andhra Pradesh would have three capitals namely as
Amaravati in
Coastal Andhra as the legislative capital with the
state assembly,
Visakhapatnam in
Uttarandhra as the administrative capital with the state secretariat and
Kurnool in
Rayalaseema as the judicial capital with the
high court.[67][68] This threw everybody into confusion, including foreign investors who had hedged their bets on the swift development of Amaravati.[69] The farmers, residents of
APCR have condemned the comments and dragged into protests against the government.[36][70][71]
The act has been challenged in
Andhra Pradesh High Court, which ordered to maintain status quo until the court completes its hearing. The
government, led by
Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, withdrew the
act, when the high court hearing reached the final stage. The chief minister, however, said his government would bring a better and more complete bill.[72]
The protesters under the banner of Amaravati Parirakshana Samithi (APS) and Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Amaravati received support from all the political parties barring the ruling YCP when they held their long marches across Andhra Pradesh seeking support for their agitation.[73]
On 5 March 2022, High court ruled that the government can not abandon development of Amaravati as capital city after farmers parted with 33,000 acres of land against the agreement with APCRDA to develop it as the capital city and ₹15,000 crore was sunk in it over development expenditure. It asked the government to develop Amaravati within six months. [74] When the government appealed in the Supreme court, it got a stay on the judgement regarding developing the city within six months. Supreme court posted the case to 11 July 2023 for hearing. [75]
Meanwhile, Jaganmohan Reddy announced that
Visakhapatnam will become the new capital when he addressed a meeting on 31 January 2023, relating to an upcoming investment summit in Vizag.[76]
Chandrababu Naidu became chief minister of Andhra Pradesh and took office of residuary Andhra Pradesh.[79]
31 December 2014
The
Government of Andhra Pradesh notified an area covering 7068 sq. km as the broader Andhra Pradesh Capital Region and the 122 sq. km as the Capital City region.[80][81]
The Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority Act, 2014 came into force.[82]
1 April 2015
Andhra Pradesh cabinet approved the decision to name the capital city as Amaravati.[83]
The New Government appointed, an Expert panel committee headed by G.N. Rao to take a review of the developmental plans initiated in Amaravati and also to suggest comprehensive development strategy for all-round development of the state including the capital.[93]
G. N. Rao further stated that, the panel suggested moving 'some of the capital functions' to other areas in form of Decentralized Government.[98][99]
29 December 2019
The
Government of Andhra Pradesh also constituted a High power committee to discuss on G. N. Rao Panel and BCG group reports due to widespread public blacklash.[100]
Public meeting is held near the foundation ceremony area (
Uddandarayunipalem) to commemorate the one year of the protests.[103][104]
23 November 2021
The state government withdrew the 3-capital bill, leading protesters to believe that the government gave into their demands. However, hours later,
Chief ministerJaganmohan Reddy announced that the government would write a "better and more comprehensive" 3-capital bill.[105]
3 March 2022
The
Andhra Pradesh High Court directs the state government to develop Amaravati as the sole capital. However, this is not recognized by the state government.[106]
The
Supreme Court of Indiastays the previous decision by the Andhra Pradesh High Court to develop Amaravati as the sole capital, stating, "Is there no separation of power in the state of Andhra Pradesh? How can a high court begin acting executive?"[110]
Timeline of the protests
17 December 2019
Hours after Jagan's announcement, violent demonstrations erupt in
Amaravati, especially in
Thullur, and other areas in the capital region.[36]
18 December 2019
Farmers held demonstrations on the roads with the cans of pesticides by citing suicide if the Jagan's decision wouldn't withdrawn.[111]
Various public and private departments, stores had openly supported the
bandh, and heavy traffic jam obstructed many government vehicles as protestors gathered on the roads.[113]
Amaravati farmers took to the streets with the announcement of
Chief minister Jagan's capital decentralization. Reactionary protests were held as well across the
Guntur and
Krishna districts of
Andhra Pradesh. They are protesting on the road with cans of pesticides and have erred in moving the
Secretariat and
High Court from the already all-encompassing Amaravati.[118] Farmers are demanding that the entire administration of government to stay where it is.