Karnataka farmers join Amaravati ryots, held

VIJAYAWADA: Police on Monday arrested farmers from Karanataka who had come in support of Amaravati’s farmers protesting the decentralisation of the state’s capital. Police intercepted the farmers who came from various parts of Karnataka at Kanaka Durga Varadhi and moved them to Krishna Lanka Police Station on Monday evening.
About 100 farmers from Bellary, Sindhanur, Rayachur, Mandya, Yadagiri and Goppala areas arrived in Vijayawada on Monday morning.They participated in the protest organised by Amaravati Parirakshana Joint Action Committee at Dharna Chowk in Vijayawada. Speaking at Dharna Chowk, the farmers from Karnataka said that they had come to extend solidarity to farmers of Amaravati who had given away their lands for the construction of the capital city. They said the state government’s oppression of peaceful protests and the way women were treated were condemnable.
Meanwhile, TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu demanded the immediate release of the farmers. He said he would hold a dharana at Amaravati if the farmers were not released soon.