Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam   

Gangavaram not a law and order issue: Jana Vignana Vedika

Special Correspondent

Government accused of ignoring people's welfare

VISAKHAPATNAM: Jana Vignana Vedika (JVV) has condemned the attitude of the State Government in treating the Gangavaram fishermen's issue as a law and order problem when it was purely a peaceful agitation launched by the fisherfolk for their livelihood and rehabilitation.

In a statement here on Monday, JVV general secretary T. Kameswara Rao said that in a democracy justice should be provided to all while going ahead with developmental programmes. "Unfortunately, thanks to globalisation any development is measured only in monetary terms. Governance does not mean revenue to the Government, but people's welfare. However, the Government seems not bothered about the welfare of people,'' he remarked.

Police action decried

While the construction of Gangavaram port, for that matter any developmental programme, was welcome, the JVV opposed the Government policy depriving the livelihood of fisherfolk in Gangavaram village, he explained. He also condemned the police action attacking various people's organisations and fishermen who were on an agitation demanding their right to livelihood. The failure of the district administration to resolve the issue peacefully gave room for suspicion that the Government was deliberately trying to complicate matters, he opined.

Detention `undemocratic'

Describing the detention of leaders of the Gangavaram movement for so long a period as `undemocratic', Mr. Kameswara Rao questioned the Government's attitude in dilly-dallying the issue even several days after `one life' was lost. This was because the Government lacked sincerity in resolving the matter, he said.

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