Rayalaseema region is suddenly in the news for all the wrong reasons in Andhra Pradesh right now. The narrative that is driving this is the “Rayalaseema intellectuals Forum” that is demanding three capitals for the state. But, what is this forum? Who are these intellectuals and why is it coming up now… When the decision for three capitals has been withdrawn by AP government and been approved silently by many citizens who are in support of Amaravati as their only capital?
Well, for starters. Political experts say that this could be a diversion tactic from the Jaganmohan Reddy-led government. Why and how? Well, there’s a huge protest from Amaravati farmers across the state, who are voicing their opinion in support of one capital.
While the protest against the government, in favour of Amaravati farmers, has gained huge response from across the state, YSRCP is finding a strong political retort to counter the “single-capital narrative.” Through the Rayalaseema Intellectuals Forum, which is a new political group in favour of three capitals, the state is witnessing another divisive sentiment brewing politically.
Not just that, but many wonder who and how does one classify a person as intellectual and elevate him or her to a level where they are known to politically support one party’s ideology rather than question anything and everything, without bias? So, in this case, no one understands where these overnight intellectuals come from and why they hail only from one community which has been spewing venom on the Opposition in the state.
Another interesting observation is that those from the Forum claim that they represent the aspirations of the people of Rayalaseema and that they want three capitals. If that is true, then why did the government revoke the Three Capitals Bill in the Legislative Assembly? What is the purpose of a divisive forum like this which brings no solution but further causes distortion in the state, is something people need to be vigilant about.
This realization should not just come in the wake of such Forums belonging to one caste, but should also be able to convert this crisis into an opportunity to grow the state. With YSRCP breeding so many hooligans in the state and taking the state into a financial emergency, one needs to ask: Why do we need an unimportant forum to decide whether our state needs a capital or not? That is a moot question that is open to guesswork!
