RK Beach set to do Marina

​Visakhapatnam: The vast expanse of the other-wise serene RK beach in the city is all set to host a landmark event with a throbbing activity ahead of a call given by a ‘ginger group’ in the social media as a replica of the Jallikattu movement on the Marina Beach in Chennai demanding special category status on Thursday.

Facing the quite sea with waves hitting it gently, the sprawling beach spread over 6 km from Coast Battery of Indian Navy to Park Hotel Junction presented a picture like a lull before the storm a few hours before the event on Wednesday evening.

There were no arrangements, no hype and no beehive of activity either, the hallmarks of political rallies, barring groups of people taking evening strolls and sea watchers.

Yet, the environs are set to witness a novel protest on the Republic Day with the advocates of the special category status taking part in a march with a national flag and their mouths gagged as a token of resentment against the government allegedly trying stifle democratic voices by using the police.

The air of suspense over the identity of organisers and their credentials behind the protest which reined in over the power corridors for the last few days gave way to a clear picture towards evening.

V Satish, a young netizen and ardent fan of Jana Sena leader Pawan Kalyan, claimed responsibility for floating an outfit ‘Andhra Youth’ to lead the protest.

As per initial reports, it may be a mix of gathering with people of all ages, literates and non-literates, students and youth and professionals which is likely to converge on the beach for a show of strength.

A large number of students pursuing technical education and jobless engineering graduates are expected to join the protest as they reportedly developed a feeling that the job opportunities have been dwindling in the state after bifurcation for want of special category status to attract industries.

Satish said fishermen from the area also expressed interest to join the protest. The law enforcement agencies are spending anxious moments over the course the protest is likely to take, for the Republic Day falls on the same day as a matter of coincidence and Partnership Summit is scheduled to take place in the city two days later.

Denial of permission for the demonstration by the police on the ground of not having prior application by any group with `established identity, lends it an emotional support from different walks of public life. Although the police are preparing to seal all the roads leading to the beach, it is unlikely to be a deterrent.

Although the top cops put up a brave front with tough postures, it may not be an easy task for the police to be harsh while dealing with the protesters, mostly students and youth, with no distinct political shades.

Any hasty action from the police is likely to attract the ire of the civil society and rights groups. Although the movement looks apolitical, the opposition parties are quick to jump on the bandwagon in a desperate bid to push the TDP-BJP ruling combine into a tight spot on the SCS issue.

When YSRC president YS Jaganmohan Reddy offered to join the protest while daring the government to arrest him, the TDP AP unit president K. Kala Venkata Rao was in a haste to attach political labels to the beach protest saying the former was behind it. Will Pawan Kalyan lead the protest? “We tweeted, inviting our hero to lead us.

We will see,” Satish told the media personnel. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu guarded himself while commenting on the beach demonstration at a party coordination committee meeting ahead of the cabinet meeting.

“No parallels can be drawn between the Jallikattu movement and the proposed one for special category status on the RK beach” was his refrain. BJP senior leader and Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu asserts, “Andhra Pradesh is a top priority for our government.

That is why the NDA government has offered the special package with all the salient features of the special category status”, he said from New Delhi.