Mild tension at Krishnapatnam Port as port staff obstruct all-party delegation

NELLORE : Mild tension prevailed at Krishnapatnam Port as the security staff of the Adani Ports prevented the entry of an all-party delegation led by Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Polit Bureau member Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy.

The all-party delegation wanted to express solidarity with the agitating employees of the port over the alleged attempts to close down the operations. When the security staff obstructed the team that also comprised the representatives of the CPI, CPI(M) and Jana Sena Party (JSP), Mr. Chandramohan Reddy wondered how could the security staff of the private port prevent their entry on a public road. The TDP activists staged a protest when the port staff tried to push Mr. Chandramohan Reddy away, leading to a melee.

Krishnapatnam port authorities intervened and pacified Somireddy and others, and after several hours of commotion, the situation finally came under control.

Speaking to reporters later, the TDP politburo member alleged that both the Krishnapatnam port authorities and local minister Kakani Govardhan Reddy were misleading the people over the resumption of operations at the container terminal.

“On Feb 8, Krishnapatnam Port CEO Mr. GJ Rao promised to the all-party delegation that operations would be resumed within 15 days. Though that deadline ended on Feb 23rd itself, operations haven’t resumed in reality. While the fact is that the Krishnapatnam port has been turned into an empty containers parking facility, the port authorities and the local minister are misleading the people with their false claims,” Somireddy said.

The ex-minister warned that the TDP and other opposition parties would further intensify their protests if the state government doesn’t intervene and resume operations at the container terminal besides taking back the workers who lost their employment due to the suspension of operations about a month and a half ago.