*YS Jagan’s intervention helped bring Konaseema fishermen home safely: MP Gurumoorthy*

Tirupati, Aug 27: Tirupati MP Maddila Gurumoorthy accused the coalition government of failing to protect fishermen despite Andhra Pradesh having nearly 900 km of coastline.
Speaking at the YSRCP office in Tirupati, he said fishermen’s families are living in fear, unsure whether those who venture into the sea will return safely. He questioned why the government has not provided satellite phones, regular safety audits, GPS tracking and reliable navigation systems for fishing boats.
Referring to the Konaseema fishermen who went missing after leaving Odalarevu on August 3 in the boat Sri Muthyalamma, Gurumoorthy said they battled for survival for nearly 24 days after the boat developed problems and drifted towards the Bangladesh side. They were finally spotted by West Bengal fishermen and brought safely to Digha.
He said YSRCP President YS Jagan Mohan Reddy immediately directed the party to pursue the matter with the Centre. Letters were sent to Union Ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and S. Jaishankar, while coordination was maintained with the Coast Guard and the Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi and Myanmar authorities. He thanked all agencies involved in the rescue efforts.
Gurumoorthy demanded mandatory safety audits, satellite phones, functional transponders, GPS systems, life jackets and solar power backup for navigation equipment.
He said the YS Jagan government had initiated 10 fishing harbours, extended Matsyakara Bharosa during the fishing-ban period and planned deep-sea fishing boats through FPOs. He alleged that the coalition government had shelved these initiatives and urged it to prioritise fishermen’s safety.