By Our Special Correspondent
The 1,000-km maha padayatra started on Monday morning from TTD Srivenkateswara Swamy Devasthanam in Venkatapalem village of Amaravati capital region to mark the completion of 1000 days of Amaravati farmers' agitation.
Srikakulam district ends at Arsavalli. Most of the 600 people who participated in the Maha Padayatra were senior citizens above 60 years of age. According to them, despite their age restrictions, it was a matter of 'chao-survival' (life or death) so they decided to join the padayatra.
A large number of people reached Venkatayapalem to send off the padayatra, including women farmers. Venkateswara's chariot built for the purpose remains an added attraction and many people, including politicians, compete to pull the chariot to mark the inauguration of the padayatra.
Former Union Minister Renuka Chaudhary, who participated in the padayatra, and APCC Working President N. Tulsi Reddy said that the Congress party would support the padayatra.
She said that the state government has failed to protect the interests of farmers and raised three capital proposals. She opined that farmers should not believe the comments of YSRCP leaders. CPM state leaders CH Baburao said that the state government should respect the padayatra as it is conducting the padayatra with the permission of the High Court.
Meanwhile, the opposition has criticized Assembly Speaker T Sitaram's remarks that this is an 'antima yatra'. They said that a person holding the highest constitutional post should refrain from making such comments. The judgment of the court should be respected.
Former TDP Ministers Devineni Umamaheswara Rao, N Ananda Babu, former MLA Chinthamaneni Prabhakar and others participated in the march and raised Jai Amaravati slogans.
On Monday, the journey via Krishnayapalem ended with a night stay at Mangalagiri. Police have set up security along the March route. In the wake of 'provocative' remarks by ministers and YSRCP leaders, this time the organizers of the trip, anticipating trouble, are using the services of bouncers to protect the participants from any attack.
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