Fishermen protest Secretariat plan at Foreshore Estate

Hundreds of fishermen assembled at Foreshore Estate on Monday to register their opposition to a proposed Secretariat project, in a demonstration that underlined growing concern within the community over the plan.

The protest was led by community figure K. Bharathi, who has been at the forefront of the mobilisation against the proposal. Addressing those gathered, Bharathi recalled a public statement by Minister Aadhav Arjuna, who had said that if the Chief Minister were ever forced to choose between the Secretariat and the welfare of fishermen, the latter would take precedence.

Bharathi pointed to that assurance as the basis for the community's appeal, arguing that the present proposal sits uneasily with the commitment articulated by the minister. The remark has become a rallying point for the fishermen, who contend that their livelihoods and coastal access must not be compromised.

The gathering at Foreshore Estate drew participants from across the fishing community, reflecting a coordinated effort to press their case. No further details on the nature of the Secretariat proposal or the next course of action were immediately available.