Fishermen protest in sea against Naidu arrest

Visakhapatnam: Fishermen of Peda Jalaripeta in Visakhapatnam carried out a unique protest condemning the arrest of  former chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu by waving party flags from their boats afloat in the sea on Sunday morning. They raised slogans and demanded his immediate release from the central prison in Rajamahendravaram.

Visakhapatnam East MLA and senior TD leader Velagapudi Ramakrishnababu, who was supposed to inaugurate the protest, was put under house arrest the entire day. TD corporator in GVMC Nolli Nukaratnam said much of the welfare activities for the fishermen families took place during the Telugu Desam regime.

“Naidu gave us houses and house-site pattas and arresting such a man is condemnable,’’ Nukaratnam said. The corporator also strongly condemned the house arrest of MLA Velagapudi Ramakrishna Babu. Other leaders said they would continue with the protests till Naidu is released from the prison.

Later in the evening, the police foiled the protest rally planned by the Telugu Mahila leaders led by former MLA Visakhapatnam south incharge of the party Gandi Babji on the beach road. The police did not allow the party workers from garlanding the statue of N.T. Rama Rao at RK Beach. They were taken to the Three Town police station and released. Eye witnesses said the police did not allow visitors to RK Beach due to the TD protest.