Fishermen impose 'Durai' on Nellore TDP President Beeda Ravichandra

Nellore: A prominent Telugu Desam leader, Beeda Ravichandra, from Allur area, is facing ire of the fishermen in his native place for abusing the fishermen community. The irritated fishermen finally imposed a penalty of Rs. 10,000 (locally called Durai) for the people who talk to him directly and if anybody observes people conversating with him and in-forms to the village elders.

According to sources from Iskapalli Palem fishermen village, TDP District President Beeda Ravichandra who is from Iskapalli village in Allur Mandal visited the seacoast on Tuesday as part of collecting water from the Bay for a holy ritual in the newly constructed Sivalayam located in Iskapalli. Kanchipuram Seer Sankara Vijayendra Saraswathi Swami is organizing the event for the last three days.

Ravichandra who visited the coast and observed dirty conditions there were liquor bottles and other garbage dumped and reportedly criticized the local community by taking caste name, which irritated the community members.

In fact, fishermen villages are the stronghold of the TDP, and around 15 people have joined the ruling YSR Congress party before the elections. At the time of joining, the village Kapus who dictate terms as part of village internal traditional setup imposed huge penalties of Rs. 50,000-60,000 to each member for shifting loyalties from the TDP to the YSR Congress.

At this juncture, by virtue of the ruling party in the state, the village elders penalized YSRCP leaders for shifting loyalties, started opposing the TDP leader Ravichandra and demanded a response from the village for his abusive remarks on the community. The irked village elders finally imposed Durai asking not to allow Ravichandra into the village and in case anybody talks to him would be penalized with Rs. 10,000.

They communicated the villagers about the decision of the Kapu leaders and asked them to follow it strictly. Now, the issue is viral on the social media in the local area and also wondering the people why the community leaders who support the TDP had imposed Durai on the TDP leader and also penalty on the violators.