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Did Governor Bishwabhushan Harichandan acted out of bias

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Did Governor Bishwabhushan Harichandan acted out of bias

In a tearing hurry, Governor Bishwabhushan Harichandan on Friday approved the two controversial bills — the Andhra Pradesh Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of all Regions Bill and APCRDA Repeal Bill paving the way for creating three capitals in the state.

This isn’t the first time that a governor of a state has acted in a partisan and biased manner. In no way will it be the last, either.

Earlier, the Governor had passed an ordinance promulgated to reduce the State Election Commissioner’s term to three from five years. The Governor had given his assent to remove Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar as SEC. He gave his assent even as the case was sub-judice with at least three petitions pending in the Andhra Pradesh High Court. The next day, the Andhra Pradesh government had appointed 75-year-old retired judge Kangaraju who later met the Governor at the Raj Bhavan.

However, the High Court had reinstated Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar despite the Governor passing the Ordinance promulgated by the Andhra Pradesh government. In a way, the High Court verdict was not just a blow to the Andhra Pradesh government, but a huge embarrassment to the Governor.

This time, the Governor gave his assent to the two controversial bills even as the matter is pending in the High Court. However, the Governor stated that he approved the two Bills after thorough consultations with legal experts. The Governor’s move gains significance as the matter is sub-judice, pending before the High Court.

The same story is likely to repeat again, mostly likely his decision will prove to be a historical blunder. The Governor’s assent will be open to legal challenge and stand before the courts. However, his assent to the two Bills should not come as a surprise as the Governor while addressing the Assembly session via video-conference from Raj Bhavan had clearly stated that the creation of three capitals will be a reality. The Governor’s statement from Raj Bhavan comes even as the matter was pending in the High Court.

The Governor has approved the bills notwithstanding a demand by the Opposition parties to refer them to President Ram Nath Kovind. Both the Bills were passed in the Assembly in January and introduced in the Council, while the chairman referred them to the Select Committee. The two Bills require deeper examination.

The bills were halted in the Assembly for the second time as the session was suspended amid pandemonium. Telugu Desam Party has requested the Governor not to give assent to the two Bills as the Legislative Council had disapproved the state government policy in this regard.

The Governor’s nod should also not come as a surprise for another reason: Governors in the country are too well-known to have acted in a partisan fashion and served the agendas of parties they belonged to or are closer to.

The governor is appointed by the President who acts on the advice of the Council of Ministers at the Centre as per Article 74 of the Constitution. In essence, the governor is chosen by the government of the day. Therefore, Governors are explicitly or implicitly political appointees.

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AP Governor approves Capital shifting bills

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AP Governor approves Capital shifting bills

After a gap of 10 days, Andhra Pradesh Governor Biswabhushan Harichandan has finally signed on the two controversial bills relating to the Capital City shifting in the State. With this, Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy has got a big boost for his efforts to shift the AP Executive Capital to Visakhapatnam. Amaravati will be the Legislative Capital while Kurnool will be the Judicial Capital.

Lot of controversy was surrounding the Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of All Regions Bill and the CRDA Repeal Bill. These were aimed at achieving the CM’s goal for 3 Capitals for AP. Reports say that the Governor has taken legal experts’ opinion before signing on the bills. So much time was taken for approving the bills in view of the pending court cases and also allegations from the Opposition that the bills were unconstitutional and unlawful.

It is not yet clear whether the Government would send the bills now to the President’s approval or not. The TDP has been demanding that the bills be sent to the Central Government as they were in violation of the AP Reorganisation Act 2014.

On their party, the YCP Ministers and MLAs have been saying that all is clear for shifting Executive Capital to Visakhapatnam. Once the Covid-19 intensity came down, the Capital would be shifted out of Amaravati.

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Pawan prediction: 3 Capitals will remain an unfulfilled dream

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Pawan prediction: 3 Capitals will remain an unfulfilled dream

Jana Senani Pawan Kalyan has poured out his thoughts in his own inimitable style on the fate of 3 Capitals being pursued by CM Jaganmohan Reddy. He said that both Jagan Reddy’s trifurcation and Chandrababu Naidu’s Amaravati Global Capital City sounded like dreams. Everybody has seen how Amaravati concept has eventually fallen into an unpredictable crisis. The fate of Jagan Reddy’s multiple capitals would be no different. Senani has finally predicated that the 3 Capitals dream will not come true and it will do down in Andhra history as yet another unfulfilled dream.

As is well known, Power Star comes out with powerful thoughts on the burning issues. He was initially silent in the beginning of the current protests against the Capital bills. But now, he is making no secret of his disappointment and displeasure at Jagan Reddy’s policy. Senani was telling the CM that if he had this multiple Capitals proposal, he would have told the people at the time of elections. If Jagan Reddy did not want Amaravati, he should have made it known prior to the elections itself. It Jagan said this at that time, the farmers would not have risked their property and they would not have given their lands.

In the opinion of Pawan, it is too late for the YSRCP to venture into such an unimplementable task of shifting Capital. It is not correct to punish the innocent farmers who got caught in the crossfire between the YSRCP and the TDP. The farmers have sacrificed thousands of their ancestral lands. It involves thousands of stakeholders. The government cannot look at this like a trivial issue. The YSRCP is bound to face more and more problems if it is adamant in this respect.

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PMO enquires about three capitals bill

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PMO enquires about three capitals bill

In a significant development, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on Thursday enquired about the two crucial and controversial Bills related to three Capitals formation and CRDA Repeal.

The Jagan government presented to Governor Bishwabhushan Harichandan the two bills on the AP Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA) and the formation of three capitals for his assent. The PMO sought detailed information on the crucial bills.

The bills, highly opposed by all the Opposition parties, were created to make executive capital at Visakhapatnam and judicial capital at Kurnool, while making the present capital, Amaravati, as the legislative capital.

The PMO’s enquiry comes in the wake of anxiety among the people of Andhra Pradesh over the Governor’s decision over the Bills. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation for the capital in Amaravati when N Chandrababu Naidu was the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh. The central government and several Hindu organisations are upset over the Jagan government’s proposed move to create three capitals. They have decried the bills as an attack on Hinduism.

While the YSRCP leaders were confident that the Governor would give his assent and Presidential nod, Bishwabhushan Harichandan seems to be in no hurry to pass the Bills. The Governor had to face an embarrassment in Nimmagada Ramesh Kumar case when he passed an ordinance promulgated by the Andhra Pradesh to reduce the SEC term to three years from five years. Once bitten twice shy, the Governor is likely to refer the two Bills to President Ram Nath Kovind after a thorough legal examination.

YSRCP ‘rebel’ YSRCP Lok Sabha member Raghurama Krishna Raju had recently met President Ram Nath Kovind and submitted a memorandum to him with an appeal to intervene in the three capitals issues.

He had urged the President to ensure that Amaravati be retained as the capital as per the wishes of the people of Andhra Pradesh. He appealed to the President to press upon the Governor not to give his assent to the two Bills. Amaravati joint action committee chairman G V R Sastry also met the President on the issue.

On Thursday, in an ominous message to the Jagan government, actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan warned of a mass movement in Andhra Pradesh centred around the ongoing agitation in Amaravati likening it to Nandigram agitation in West Bengal.

On several occasions, former chief minister and TDP president Chandrababu Naidu decried the proposed move to create three capitals stating that the bifurcation act passed by the Parliament suggested ‘one Capital’ for AP, and that the two bills under consideration were brought in violation of the country’s established Parliamentary traditions.

The state Assembly had already passed the two crucial Bills and sent them to the council where there was a stalemate on whether or not they should be sent to the select committee.

The Opposition leaders, mainly the TDP, termed the two bills unconstitutional since they were not passed nor cleared by the Select Committee in the Legislative Council so far.

Thousands of farmers from 29 villages gave away over 35,000 acres of land for capital creation in Amaravati during the TDP regime. However, the YSRCP government led by Jagan Mohan Reddy announced shifting of the capital from Amaravti to Vizag, a move that triggered protests from the farmers who gave away their land for formation of capital in Amaravati.

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Assembly passes CRDA bill minus Opposition members

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Assembly passes CRDA bill minus Opposition members

The three capitals issue again came into the spotlight.

The Andhra Pradesh Assembly on Wednesday passed eight crucial bills including the Capital Region Development Authority Repeal Bill 2020 and the AP Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of all Regions Bill 2020, the first steps the ruling YSRCP dispensation took in decentralizing the state’s capital between Amaravati, Visakhapatnam and Kurnool. Currently, the issue is pending in the Andhra Pradesh High Court. Despite this, the state government got the two bills passed in the Assembly.

The two bills were introduced in the two-day assembly session to decentralize the state’s capital and replace the APCRDA with the AMDA. Both have been passed as the ruling government enjoys a majority of 151 in the 175-member Assembly. However, it has only nine members in the legislative council, out of 58, while the TDP enjoys a majority of 28 there. But with the TDP boycotting the Assembly on Wednesday, the bills were passed without any protest. In the first Assembly session after YSRCP rode to power, the Andhra Pradesh government’s proposal to trifurcate the capital was stalled by TDP with its majority in the council.

Earlier, Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan ascertained that the Andhra Pradesh government was committed to create three capitals terming the decision as “wise” even as the decision was challenged in the High Court by the Amaravati farmers. Addressing a joint sitting of the Legislative Council and the Legislative Assembly via video conference from Raj Bhavan, the Governor said the Andhra Pradesh government took a prudent decision to three capitals – Executive at Visakhapatnam, Legislative at Amaravati, and Judiciary at Kurnool.

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PTI report confirms Jagan bid to shift AP Capital

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PTI report confirms Jagan bid to shift AP Capital

The Press Trust of India, the country’s premier news agency, put out a story today saying that Jagan Circar is planning to shift AP Capital to Vizag on May 26. The agency quoted a highly placed source in the government for its story. This story is published in several English dailies. It says that the government is considering May 22 as the day when the AP Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of All Regions Bill 2020 to become a law. This is because the four month statutory period ends on May 22. The gap is created because of the legislative roadblock in the AP Legislative Council.

Apparently, the Jagan Reddy government is sending out all indications that it is determined to shift Capital come what may. It is also not bothered to care about the Selection Committees of the Council. So far, these committees are not appointed by the Council Secretary though the Chairman has given orders for the same. But, the government, which created crisis in Council, now is maintaining that non-appointment of Selection Committees is an internal failure of Council.

Analysts say that Jagan Circar is expressly preparing to shift Secretariat and HoDs offices by considering Decentralisation Bill deemed to be a Law on May 22.

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Impasse over 3-capital plan continues in Andhra

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Impasse over 3-capital plan continues in Andhra

Impasse over Bills pertaining to the Andhra three-capital plan continues between the state government and the Legislative Council.

Council Chairman M.A. Shariff had referred the two Bills to a select committee. The AP Legislature Secretary returned the file to Shariff two days ago saying the House panel couldn’t be constituted as due procedures were not followed in referring the Bills to the committee.

The Bills are the AP Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of all Regions Bill, 2020, and the Repealing the APCRDA Act Bill. The government proposes to retain Amaravati as the legislative capital, while making Visakhapatnam the home for executives and Kurnool the judicial capital.

Taking exception, Shariff has reportedly asked the Secretary to set up the committee immediately and send him the compliance report. He is said to be exploring all options if the Secretary continued to defy the order.

The opposition parties have also slammed the Secretary for returning the file to the Chairman with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) terming it “contempt of the Upper House”.

The ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) argued that the Chairman’s announcement to refer the Bills to the select committee was invalid. YSRCP leaders demand that the Bills be considered passed.

Y. Ramakrishnudu, TDP leader in Legislative Council, said the government’s argument was based on the lack of knowledge of legislative rules. The Council Chairman had referred the Bills to the select committee by using his discretionary powers and ignoring the YSRCP demand to put them to vote.

The Bills were passed by the Assembly at its special sitting on January 20. While one Bill aims at scrapping a special body created to develop Amaravati as the new capital, the second provides for development of Visakhapatnam and Kurnool as the two other capitals.

The Bills, however, hit a roadblock in the Legislative Council, where the opposition is in majority.

Taking note of the Opposition’s bid to stall the Bills, the YSRCP government moved to abolish the Upper House. The Assembly passed a resolution on January 27, recommending to the Centre to abolish the Council.

Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday also urged him to expedite the process. Reddy told Modi the Council had lost its utility and it was going against Bills passed by the Assembly.

He urged Modi to direct the Law Ministry to take necessary action in this regard.

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Capital row: Centre dashes Chandrababu’s hopes of intervention

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Capital row: Centre dashes Chandrababu’s hopes of intervention

Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s hopes of the Centre’s intervention to prevent shifting of the state capital from Amaravati were dashed with the BJP-led government making it clear that it is the prerogative of the state to decide on its capital.

The Leader of the Opposition and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President was hoping that the Centre will put a brake to Jagan Mohan Reddy government’s move to develop three state capitals.

“It is for each state to decide its capital within its territory,” Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said during question hour in Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

He was replying to a question by TDP MP Galla Jaydev, who wanted to know the Centre’s reaction to the state government’s move.

Jayadev also wanted to know whether the Centre would advise the state not to resort to such decisions which not only vitiate the investment climate but will also be a great loss to thousands of farmers who have given their land for construction of new capital Amaravati.

The minister merely said the state government, through its order dated April 23, 2015, had notified Amaravati as the capital city. “Recently media reports have appeared indicating the state government’s decision to create three capitals for the State of Andhra Pradesh. It is for each state to decide its capital within its territory,” he said.

The statement has come as a shot in the arm for the YSR Congress government, which has decided to develop Visakhapatnam and Kurnool as the capital cities in addition to Amaravati.

With the decision to shift administrative capital functions to Visakhapatnam, the coastal city will become the main seat of governance for all practical purpose. The high court will be shifted to Kurnool while Amaravati will merely remain as a legislative capital.

However, a day after the Centre made it stand clear, Naidu remarked that a state can choose its capital but it can’t change it. He was addressing farmers of Amaravati, whose protest over the state government’s three-capital move entered 50th day on Wednesday.

Naidu wondered why the Centre washing its hands off when the state’s move threatened to badly affect the interests of farmers who had given 33,000 acres of land for building the capital.

The TDP chief was hopeful of Centre’s intervention as Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself had laid foundation for Amaravati in 2015.

Amaravati was the brainchild of Naidu, who lost power to the YSRCP in the elections last year.

Stating that the state lacks funds to develop a “grandiose” capital like Amaravati, Jagan Mohan Reddy mooted the decentralization of capital functions to ensure what he calls equitable development of all three regions.

Last month, the state Assembly passed two Bills to create three state capitals. However, in the Legislative Council, dominated by the opposition, the Bills were referred to a select committee.

Angered over the Council Chairman’s move, the government passed a resolution in the Assembly, urging the Centre to abolish the upper House of the State Legislature.

All opposition parties including Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have opposed the shifting of the capital from Amaravati and criticized the move to abolish the Council.

Three Rajya Sabha members of the TDP, who had defected to the BJP after the general elections, and actor Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena, which last month announced an alliance with the BJP, are hopeful that the Centre would not facilitate early passing of a Bill in the Parliament for abolishing the Council.

A group of Amaravati farmers have already challenged the government’s three-capital move in the high court.

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Amaravati Capital notified in 2015: Centre tells Lok Sabha

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Amaravati Capital notified in 2015: Centre tells Lok Sabha

For a long time now, the YCP leaders including CM Jaganmohan Reddy are saying that the previous Chandrababu Regime has not notified Amaravati as the Capital City of Andhra Pradesh. But, the Union Government clarified in the Lok Sabha today that Amaravati was notified as AP Capital way back on April 23, 2015. Union Minister Nityananda Roy told the House today that the then AP Government had a choice to set up Capital in any place in the state. Accordingly, the then government selected and notified Amaravati as AP Capital at that time.

With this, doubts are being raised once again whether YCP Ministers Botsa Satyanarayana, Buggana Rajendranath Reddy and others spread falsehoods on Amaravati Capital notification. The Ministers were saying from the beginning that Naidu didn’t care to notify Capital but merely wasted his time showing graphics on Singapore model buildings in Amaravati region.

Whatever, TDP and YCP leaders are interpreting Centre’s latest clarification to suit their respective positions. TDP MPs say that the Centre acknowledged Amaravati Capital status in the Lok Sabha itself. But YCP says that its government has still a choice to develop Capital in any place it wants.

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Centre can’t interfere with AP Capital shifting: Lok Sabha

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Centre can’t interfere with AP Capital shifting: Lok Sabha

Union Minister of State for Home Nityananda Roy said in the Lok Sabha today that the Central Government cannot interfere on the contentious issue of 3 Capitals plan in Andhra Pradesh. In his reply to a question asked by TDP MP Galla Jayadev, the Union Minister said that a state government can set its Capital in any place of its choice but the Centre cannot put any objection to that.

At the same time, Roy said that their government at the Centre had not officially received any communication from the AP government about the Capital shifting plan. However, the Minister said that it has come to the notice of the Centre through media reports that AP is getting 3 Capitals in place of present one at the global city in Amaravati.

The Modi government official statement now came as a big boost for CM Jaganmohan Reddy who is making uncompromising efforts to shift Capital out of Amaravati. Analysts say that this is the only official position taken by Modi Circar which, they say, is actively unhappy with the YCP misgovernance in AP.

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Jagan completing Naidu’s Millennium Towers: Vizag Capital

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Jagan completing Naidu’s Millennium Towers: Vizag Capital

The AP High Court has warned the officials that if they shift offices out of the present Amaravati Capital, the entire expenses will be recovered from them. The court has banned all activities relating to the Capital shifting to Visakhapatnam. But, CM Jaganmohan Reddy is silently going ahead with his 3 Capitals mission. Now, Jagan Circar has released Rs. 19.73 Cr to complete the Millennium Towers project in Vizag. These towers are in news these days as the next destination for AP Secretariat under Capital shifting.

Ironically, the Millennium Towers project was also started by Chandrababu Naidu whose vision was to kickstart software industry in a big way in Vizag. Jagan is sparing these multi-crore towers for his own convenience. Rumours are that these towers are being completed in the name of IT department only but they will later be occupied for running AP Secretariat offices.

On the other hand, the BJP leaders are still giving mixed signals on 3 Capitals. As a result, senior YCP leaders are in doubts about the success of Vizag Capital. However, Jagan Reddy is bulldozing his advisors and bureacrats to just implement his orders without questions. AP administration presently runs like a racy suspense thriller. What happens next, only God knows.

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Vizag Capital should be away from coast: GN Rao

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Vizag Capital should be away from coast: GN Rao

Responding to latest controversy, GN Rao Experts Committee chairman GN Rao said that their committee has indeed suggested location of Executive Capital in Vizag but not closer to the coast. It was because of the constant cyclone threat and coastal land erosion. GN Rao said that their committee advised the Jagan Reddy government to develop the core Capital City buildings like Secretariat away from the coast. This would help Capital to safeguard itself from natural calamities like Hudhud cyclone.

GN Rao said that their panel recommended location of Capital buildings within the Vizag metropolitan region but far away from the coast. His latest comments triggered allegations and counter allegations between YCP Ministers and TDP leaders. TDP Ex Minister Devineni Uma said that Jagan Reddy is building the entire Capital closer to the coast only to increase the real estate values of the massive 30,000 acres he and his coterie bought all alongside the Vizag coast towards Srikakulam. Uma said that Jagan Reddy’s Co-Accused Vijayasai Reddy is personally getting lots of cases filed in the Supreme Court to grab Rs 1,000 Cr worth Waltair Club lands. These lands lie closer to the coast.

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Naidu politicising Vizag Capital, says Botsa

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Naidu politicising Vizag Capital, says Botsa

Confusion Minister Botsa Satyanarayana tried to remove latest confusion on the alleged hidden parts of the GN Rao and Boston committees reports which suggested against Vizag Capital. He told the media and the people that there’s a negative campaign by opposition on Vizag. Botsa blamed Chandrababu Naidu for the prevailing confusion on the government policies now. He asked Naidu to stop politicising the Vizag Capital since the government is moving ahead with clarity on the 3 Capitals decision.

Botsa asked the media not to mislead the public by publishing false reports. The government has taken the full reports of GN Rao, Boston and High Power Committee before selecting Vizag for Executive Capital. Naidu burnt these reports in Bhogi bonfires at that time. But now, the same Naidu is running campaign on these reports.

Botsa asked whether Naidu is for or against the decentralised development of all the regions in the state. On their part, the YCP is committed to development of backward regions on a par with developed areas. So, there is no turning back on Vizag Capital.

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Jagan in a dilemma over three capitals move

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Jagan in a dilemma over three capitals move

With the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council Chairman referring the bills relating to the development of three state capitals to a select committee, the Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government is finding itself in a dilemma over the issue.

A day after Council Chairman Mohammed Ahmed Shariff dealt a huge blow to the government by referring the bills to a select committee, YSR Congress Party started discussing the next course of action.

Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy went into a huddle with top party leaders on Thursday to consider the options available to the government.

The government’s efforts to swiftly complete the process of decentralization of the state capital by developing Visakhapatnam and Kurnool as the two other capitals received a major setback with Shariff referring the bills to a House panel, despite pressure from the ruling party.

The developments in the Upper House over the last two days became a hot topic of discussion with celebrations breaking out in the camp of the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and also among farmers in Amaravati villages, who have been strongly opposing any move to shift the capital from Amaravati.

After the smooth passing of the bills in the Assembly on January 20, the first day of the special session, the YSRCP suffered defeats in the Council both on Tuesday and Wednesday. On the first day, the TDP had its way by getting a resolution passed by the House, disapproving the government’s policies. The result was only expected as the YSRCP has just nine members in the 58-member House.

The ruling party was hopeful that the bills will be taken up for voting. Though they were bound to be rejected given the overwhelming majority of the opposition, YSRCP leaders were confident that it will set in motion the process which will ultimately lead to the bills being deemed approved.

The YSRCP used all its strength to ensure that the Bills are not referred to a select committee as the process could be delayed for at least three months. It used as many as 24 ministers to bring pressure on the chairman, who was appointed during the TDP rule but Shariff did not succumb and used his special powers to refer the Bills to a select committee.

The development evoked a strong reaction from the YSRCP, which alleged that TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu influenced the chairman. On the other hand, there were celebrations in the TDP camp. Naidu, his son Nara Lokesh, a member of the Council and other TDP leaders joined the Amaravati farmers in the celebrations.

Analysts, however, say the government can still issue an ordinance to go ahead with its three capital process. For this both the Houses of the State Legislature have to be prorogued.

TDP leader in the Council and former minister Y. Ramakrishnudu, however, believes that the governor can use his discretion while approving the ordinance. “He will have to satisfy himself with regard to the necessity of the ordinance and also take into account the circumstances in which the ordinance is being brought,” he said.

It will also not be easy as the farmers of Amaravati, who had given 33,000 acres of land for the capital’s development in 2015, have filed petitions challenging the government move.

With actor and Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan joining hands with the BJP, the Centre may also focus on the developments in the state. Pawan Kalyan and BJP leaders have said that the Centre will not be a mute spectator.

The other option before the government is to abolish the Council itself. However, this process may take months. For this, the government will have to pass a resolution in the Assembly and send it to the Centre. If the Centre accepts the resolution, a Bill will have to be tabled and passed in Parliament.

It is still not clear if Jagan Mohan Reddy will abolish the Council which his late father Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy had revived as the then Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh in 2007.

The Council was revived by Rajasekhara Reddy after a gap of 22 years. It was abolished in 1985 by then chief minister N.T. Rama Rao as he felt that the Upper House was proving a roadblock for his policy decisions. The then opposition Congress party had a majority in the Council.

The YSRCP faces a similar situation in the Council as the opposition TDP has 34 members.

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Black day for democracy? 3 Capitals halted in Council

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Black day for democracy? 3 Capitals halted in Council

CM Jagan Reddy’s 3 Capitals Bill was halted for a minimum of one month as it was referred to the Select Committee by the Legislative Council Chairman Sharief tonight. Ministers Buggana Rajendranath Reddy and Botsa Satyanarayana immediately held a press conference to call it a black day in AP democracy and its legislature history. They accused Chandrababu Naidu of deliberately causing too much delay in the passage of the Capitals Bill eventually.

Minister Buggana also accused Council Chairman Sharief of going against democratic norms by using his discretion to send the decentralisation bill to Select Committee. Buggana felt very bad and said that the TDP could have defeated the Capitals Bill instead of going for Committee. The Minister said that it was evident that the Opposition leader personally camped in the Council gallery to ensure that Chairman disrupt democracy.

Now, the YCP had no choice but to wait for one to three months till the Council Select Committee submits its report. Only then, the Assembly once again can take up the Bill for further consideration.

The YCP Ministers addressed the people of AP and said that while their CM was striving hard to develop all three regions of the state equally, Chandrababu is using his 40 years industry to create all know kinds of hurdles.

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AP govt hires Mukul Rohatgi to defend three-capital move

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AP govt hires Mukul Rohatgi to defend three-capital move

With its move to develop three state capitals challenged in the Andhra Pradesh High Court by Amaravati farmers, the Jagan Mohan Reddy-led state government has hired senior lawyer and former Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi to argue its case.

The planning department of the state government has earmarked Rs 5 crore for hiring his services and has issued orders for immediate release of Rs 1 crore towards advance.

Rohatgi will defend the state government in all the cases relating to Amaravati. Various groups and individuals have filed petitions against the government for imposing prohibitory orders in Amaravati villages under Section 144, implementation of Police Act 30 and the manhandling of protesters including women by the police.

Two more Public Interest Litigations (PILs) were filed in the High Court on Wednesday, challenging the two Bills passed by the Assembly on Monday to pave the way for developing three capitals – Amaravati, Visakhapatnam and Kurnool.

The government has declared that executive capital will come up in Visakhapatnam and judicial capital in Kurnool while Amaravati will serve as the legislative capital.

A group of 37 farmers filed a petition challenging the move. Rajadhani Rytu Parirakshana Samithi has also filed a PIL.

The petitioners’ lawyer Ambati Sudhakar informed the court that the government was making arrangements for shifting of the capital. However, state Advocate General submitted that the Bills were still being discussed in the Legislative Council.

The petitioners argued that setting up of High Court comes under the Union list and hence the state government has no right to shift the High Court.

The court adjourned the hearing on the PILs challenging the constitutional validity of the Bills for Thursday.

During the course of arguments, Chief Justice J.K. Maheswari indicated that a special bench may be constituted to hear all the cases related to Amaravati.

Andhra Pradesh Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of All Regions Bill and Capital Region Development Authority Repeal Bill were passed by the Assembly on Monday.

The farmers in 29 villages of Amaravati have been protesting for more than a month against the government’s move to shift key capital functions out of Amaravati.

The farmers had given 33,000 acres of land for the capital in 2015 and they fear that shifting of the capital will badly hit their interests.

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

Protests continue in Amaravati over 3 capital move

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A day after the Andhra Pradesh Assembly passed two Bills to develop three state capitals, farmers continued their protest for 35th day on Tuesday, demanding that Amaravati be continued as the only capital.

A shutdown was being observed in all 29 villages in Amaravati as farmers, who had given 33,000 acres of land to build the capital, staged a sit in and set afire the copies of the Bills.

With black cloths tied to their mouth, protestors staged silent protests in the villages. Shops and educational institutions remained closed as a mark of protest on a call given by Joint Action Committee.

Condemning the police’s “high-handedness” during Monday’s ‘chalo Assembly’ protest, the farmers decided not to extend any cooperation to the police forces deployed in the villages. They did not allow the cops to sit in front of their houses and refused to give even water.

Over 50 people, including six policemen, were reported injured in the police baton charge and the clashes during the opposition sponsored march to the Assembly to protest against the three capitals move.

Hundreds of protestors had tried to march towards the Assembly to lodge their protest against the shifting of key capital functions out of Amaravati.

Meanwhile, opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader and Guntur MP Galla Jayadev, who was arrested during the protest on Monday, was released on bail on Tuesday.

The MP said they were conducting peaceful protest but the police turned violent and attacked them. Jayadev sustained baton blows.

The TDP leader said for 15 hours the police carried him from one place to the other and did not inform him whether he was being detained or arrested. “If the police can do this to an MP, what happens to the common man,” he asked.

Dramatic scenes were witnessed late Monday night when the police detained former Chief Minister and TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu and his party MLAs when they were trying to visit Mandadam village to call on the injured protestors.

TDP MP from Vijayawada, Kesineni Nani and TDP’s Andhra Pradesh unit President Kala Venkata Rao said the police acted in high-handed manner at the behest of political bosses. They asked the police if they had obtained permission from the Lok Sabha Speaker to arrest Galla Jayadev. The TDP said it would take up the issue with the Centre.

The Assembly on Monday night passed Andhra Pradesh Decentralization and Inclusive Development of All Regions Bill Aand Capital Region Development Authority Repeal Bill, paving the way for development of three capitals – Amaravati, Visakhapatnam and Kurnool.

Meanwhile, several farmers from Amaravati called on Jana Sena leader and actor Pawan Kalyan at his party office. They alleged that police carried out brutal baton charge.

Addressing them, Pawan Kalyan said the YSRCP government will have to pay a heavy price for its shifting the capital from Amaravati. He assured the farmers that the shift will be temporary as Jana Sena will ensure that Amaravati continue as the capital.

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

Amaravati capital shifting from Ugadi, March 25!

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Amaravati capital shifting from Ugadi, March 25!

The YSRCP government in Andhra Pradesh headed by Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy has speeded up shifting of executive capital from Amaravati to Vizag.

Having introduced the bill in Legislative Assembly today to shift the executive capital from Amaravati to Vizag and the approval to the bill is only a formality considering the brute majority the YSRCP government enjoys in the Assembly, the state government has directed senior officials to devise a ‘road map’ to complete the capital shifting immediately.

Accordingly to highly placed sources, CM Jagan has given his nod to start capital shifting to Vizag from March 25, which concides with Ugadi, the Telugu New Year.

Jagan wants to make a new beginning for new capital in Vizag from AP from the onset of Telugu New Year Ugadi.

The CM has reportedly stipulated a deadline of April 16 to complete the process of capital shifting.

Accordingly, the Information Technology department has been directed to make all the necessary arrangements for providing online connectivity of all departments to start administration from Vizag from April 16.

The shifting of employees will also begin from Amaravati to Vizag from March 25.

Initially, some key departments, officials and staff will be shifted and gradually be extended to other departments in a phased manner.

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

Jagan no chance to tell Modi-Shah: Capital shifting

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Jagan no chance to tell Modi-Shah: Capital shifting

In a very crucial time, the Modi-Shah are not giving even a single chance to AP CM Jaganmohan Reddy to meet them. So, it is unavoidable for Jagan Reddy to go ahead with his Capital shifting without telling Indian PM and Home Minister. In a federal set-up, it would not be advisable for a state government to make such historic decisions without informing the Centre. For several weeks now, CM Jagan has been trying hard to meet Modi-Shah personally to secure their blessings for his government’s programmes. But there is no appointment till now. In the past two days, AP CMO tried for Amit Shah appointment again but there has been no positive response from the Union Home Minister’s Office.

The Modi-Shah duo are obviously giving an impression that their government has no role to play in the Jagan Reddy’s 3 Capitals plan. Moreover, the BJP AP unit is strongly opposing the young CM’s mission to cripple Amaravati Capital. Also, the Modi Circar is already unhappy over Jagan’s shock treatments to solar power companies and to Polaravam project authority.

Political circles say that the BJP is playing double game in AP. The Modi government remains a silent spectator. Leaders in BJP AP unit support Amaravati Capital City. But at the same time, they are trying to take political advantage out of Capital crisis. Doubts are arising whether Modi Circar will really stop Jagan from shifting Capital.

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

Centre should interfere: Pawan on Capital chaos

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Centre should interfere: Pawan on Capital chaos

Jana Senani Pawan Kalyan demanded that the Central Government organise an all-party meeting of AP political parties to resolve the issue of Capital shifting. He reminded the Centre that it had made wide consultations with all sections of United AP before separating Telangana as a state. Now that a full-scale agitation has begun, it is time for the Modi government to interfere and prevent further Capital chaos in AP. Pawan has also demanded that the two national parties should explain their respective official party stands on the AP Capital shifting.

Pawan shared his feelings with the media in his party head office. Already, Senani has openly expressed his total support to the cause of protecting the interests and livelihoods of farmers who sacrificed their lands for Amaravati Capital City construction. He said that it was indeed a sacrifice on the part of farmers who gave their ancestral properties out of innocent trust in the government. From now on, nobody would trust any government anywhere in the country going by the breach of trust by the Jaganmohan Reddy government. Pawan Kalyan is now just demanding justice to farmers but he is planning to jump into full-scale agitation once CM Jagan officially announces Capital shifting.

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

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