Jagan Mohan Reddy Accuses Andhra Government of Coercive Tactics Against Amaravati Farmers

Former Chief Minister and YSR Congress Party chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has accused the Andhra Pradesh government of using coercive measures against farmers in Amaravati, including police deployment and bulldozers. In a social media post on Saturday, he alleged that the government refused to listen to farmers' objections and instead resorted to intimidation.

Mr. Reddy stated that farmers had expressed unwillingness to part with their lands, which are their sole livelihood, but the government proceeded with force. He claimed that heavy police presence, bulldozers, and destruction of crops had been used to pressure the land-givers.

He also criticised the government for not providing proper justice or support to those who had earlier voluntarily given up their lands. Mr. Reddy vowed to stand with the farmers and demanded that no land be acquired without their consent.

The Amaravati land pooling scheme has been a contentious issue, with farmers protesting against forcible acquisition. The current government, led by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, maintains that land is being acquired for the development of the capital city with due process.