Farmers who pooled land to build Amaravati continue protests against its cancellation

Farmer Chalapati Rao's family, who gave 30ha towards building the new capital city of Amaravati in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, protesting against the government's decision to cancel the project. Thousands of farmers contributed their farmland, while some refused. PHOTO: CHALAPATI RAO
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Zoom meetings, WhatsApp calls and selfies of each family at home, wearing masks and holding banners: This is how farmers in India who gave up their land for the capital city of Amaravati are now protesting against its cancellation.

"We have been protesting since the government decided to shift the capital and throw us into uncertainty. July 23 was our 220th day of agitation," said Mr Chalapati Rao, a well-to-do farmer whose family gave 30ha towards the building of the new capital.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on July 26, 2020, with the headline Farmers who pooled land to build Amaravati continue protests against its cancellation. Subscribe