News of alleged police firing on fishermen in Visakhapatnam district rocked the Andhra Pradesh Assembly on Monday with opposition parties stalling proceedings leading to adjournment of the House twice in quick succession. Quoting eyewitnesses, Telugu Desam Party floor leader and former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu claimed two fishermen were killed and 20 injured in police firing at Gangavaram.
As soon as the House assembled for the day, the main opposition TDP, Communist Party of India and CPI (Marxist) raised the issue saying they wanted a statement from the government on the incident.
Accusing Congress government of unleashing terror on hapless fishermen and muzzling their voice of protest using brute force, Naidu demanded a judicial probe into the issue. Over 4,000 fishermen families from Dibbapalem and Gangavaram villages have been on the warpath against the port development project at Gangavaram on the grounds they would lose their means of livelihood and were demanding a permanent alternative means of livelihood and compensation.
As news of tension and rioting at Gangavaram reached the state capital, members belonging to TDP and Left Parties insisted on a debate on the issue and stormed the podium shouting slogans against the government.
Amid the din, Speaker K R Suresh Reddy adjourned the House twice. CPI (M) floor leader N Narasimhaiah warned that his party would launch a statewide agitation till the fishermen families got justice. Naidu also demanded Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia to the families of those killed and Rs 2 lakh for those injured.
