"Idea of making Kondaveedu a capital needs a political will and public debate"

*Photo,contents-courtesy: MAA HYDERABAD

The politicians should respect history and sentiments of the people. But unfortunately, they are not able to influence political decisions in Andhra Pradesh, said the former member of the Press Council of India K Amarnath.

Speaking after unveiling a book titled Kondaveedu Calling (Kondaveedu Pilusthondi) written jointly by the veteran historian Capt (Dr) Lingala Panduranga Reddy and senior Journalist Sridhar Dharmasanam both in English and Telugu, respectively, here at Press Club Hyderabad today, Amarnath was all praise for the authors for attempting to suggest a solution to the current ongoing capital issue in Andhra Pradesh in their inimitable way by suggesting to make Kondaveedu a capital of Navyandhra Pradesh.

“The authors have made a wonderful attempt to give authenticity to their argument by providing all relevant historical evidence. It would have been wonderful had politicians taken decisions keeping in view the history and sentiments of the people. But unfortunately, it is another way around. “Hence, in Andhra Pradesh also, if Chandrababu decided Amaravati for his and his community’s selfish motives, the YS Jagan too had decided on Visakhapatnam for political benefits”.

Another senior journalist Koteshwar Rao while presiding over the function welcomed the authors’ efforts in suggesting Kondaveedu as the Capital, “the idea which needs to be debated by the people”. Though they have elaborated on various historical reasonings on how it would be appropriate to establish capital at Kondaveedu at this juncture, it is possible only when the political will is there. “Let a thousand minds debate on it”, said Koteswar Rao.

Another senior journalist and writer Pasumarthi Nagendra Kumar while analysing the contents of the book remarked that a third character called Kondaveedu has now brought into the picture after Amaravathi and Visakhapatnam. “In this backdrop, a public debate is a need of the hour”, he quipped.

The others who spoke on the occasion include Senior Journalists Tadi Prakash and Sridhar Dharmasanam besides historian Capt Panduranga Reddy.