Left parties on Tuesday strongly condemned police detentions and restrictions in Nellore district, alleging that the government was attempting to suppress public opinion ahead of a public hearing on the proposed ethanol factories at the IFFCO Kisan SEZ in Racharlapadu village of Kodavalur mandal.
In a joint statement, the leaders said that police action was aimed at preventing opposition voices from participating in the public hearing on projects that could have serious implications for agriculture, the environment and local livelihoods.
The statement was issued by V. Srinivas Rao of the CPI(M), G. Eswaraiah of the CPI, P. Prasad of CPI(ML) New Democracy, Jasti Kishore Babu of CPI(ML), Katam Nagabhushanam of MCPI(U), B. Bangara Rao of CPI(ML) Liberation, M. Ramakrishna of CPI(ML) New Democracy, B. S. Amarnath of SUCI(C), P. V. Sundararamaraju of the Forward Bloc and Janaki Ramulu of the Revolutionary Socialist Party.
They alleged that leaders of various Left parties were either arrested or placed under house arrest while proceeding to attend the public hearing. Those detained included CPI(M) district secretary Moolam Ramesh, Y. Mohan Rao, Mooli Vengayya and T. Gopal; CPI(ML) New Democracy leaders Sagar, Lakshmireddy and Y. Ramakrishna; SUCI(C) leader Basavaraju; BSP leader M. Bati Srinivasulu; Forward Bloc leader P. V. Sundararamaraju; Revolutionary Socialist Party leader Janaki Ramulu; and CPI(ML) Liberation leader B. Bangara Rao. Others attempting to reach the venue were detained at the Kovur police station.
The Left parties said land had been acquired from farmers nearly 25 years ago for the Kisan SEZ, but no meaningful development had taken place so far. They alleged that the government was now seeking to permit chemical and ethanol-based industries in the area, which would adversely affect agriculture, the environment and the livelihoods of local residents.
Terming the police action authoritarian and undemocratic, the parties demanded the immediate release of all detained leaders, withdrawal of house arrests, and the conduct of the public hearing in a free, lawful and democratic manner. They also urged the government to withdraw its proposal to allow polluting industries in the region.
Published – December 30, 2025 08:51 pm IST
