Fishing harbour here was shutdown by several associations for a day on Monday to demand ST status for fishermen. In response to a call by the Matsyakarula ST Sadhana Samiti, over 3,000 fishermen attended a meeting urging the State government to recommend to the Centre to grant them ST status. Speakers at the meeting threatened to intensify their agitation to drum up support for their demand.
Meanwhile, the relay hunger strike being organised by the samiti at the Gandhi statue near GVMC entered 42nd day on Monday.
AP Mechanised Boat Operators’ Association president P.C. Appa Rao, Dolphin Boat Operators’ Welfare Association president Ch. Satyanarayana Murthy, former corporators B. Neelakantham, Garikala Gowri and Perala Ravi Chander, YSR Congress Party leader Kola Guruvulu and others said Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu should keep the promise made in the TDP manifesto during 2014 general elections.
Pawan extends support
Vijayawada Staff Reporter adds: Throwing his weight behind the fisherfolks’ campaign for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, Jana Sena Party (JSP) President Pawan Kalyan promised to raise the issue when he gets to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and that the TDP government should recognize them as ST having included it in its manifesto. Addressing a delegation of the fishing community who met him in Hyderabad on Monday, Mr. Kalyan said he was aware of their plight and took objection to suppression of their peaceful agitations
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