Pawan Kalyan Backs West Godavari Villagers Against Food Park

Hyderabad: Telugu film star and Janasena party founder Pawan Kalyan on Saturday extended support to struggle by residents of some villages in West Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh against establishment of an aqua food park.

The activists, who spoke ahead of Kalyan at a press meet here, alleged that the food park being set up in the Godavari delta area in the district polluted a major canal that is lifeline to lakhs of people, including farmers and fishermen. The factory is being set up without conducting any public opinion and that serious police cases are being filed against those fighting against the food park, they claimed.

Noting that he is not opposed to industrial progress, Kalyan, however, suggested that the government consider shifting the food park to a different location.

Kalyan asked why the TDP government and local BJP MP and other MLAs did not respond adequately to the pleas of those opposed the aqua food park. Why BJP MP and party MLAs did not look into the fears of pollution of river at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked about cleaning the Ganga, he asked. He also questioned the logic in imposing prohibitory orders in small villages. Don't make it like a Nandigram, the actor-turned-politician said. His party would provide legal support and fight for justice to the affected people, he added. Kalyan, who is hugely popular among youth, campaigned in support of the BJP-TDP combine in the 2014 elections. His campaign is considered one of the major reasons for the success of the combine at the hustings.