Rahul Gandhi interacts with fishermen in Kerala; ventures into sea

By PTI
KOLLAM: Seeking to succeed in out to the fishing group in poll-bound Kerala, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday interacted with the fishermen at Thangassery seashore within the district.

Gandhi, who had been touring the state for the final two days, additionally ventured into sea with the fisherfolks of their boat.

After starting his journey from Vadi seashore right here by 4.30 am, he spent practically an hour with them earlier than reaching the venue of interplay.

He additionally forged the online and engaged in fishing together with them.

Clad in blue t-shirt and khaki trousers, the Congress chief could possibly be seen waving fingers to the onlookers from the boat whereas reaching again to the shores.

AICC normal secretary Okay C Venugopal and T N Prathapan M P, additionally chairman of National Fishermen Congress, additionally accompanied him throughout his sea journey.

During the interplay, Gandhi stated he all the time wished to expertise the lifetime of fishermen.

“Early this morning, I went to sea with my brothers. From the moment the boat went and came back, they took the entire risk…their entire labour. They sought to the sea, buy the net and somebody else gets the profit,” Gandhi stated.

“We tried to fish but got only one. Even with this investment, the net came back empty. This was my experience,” he added.

Gandhi additional stated he would attempt to have a separate ministry for fisheries on the Centre.

“So that the issues of fishing community can be defended and protected,” he stated including that the UDF leaders within the state would quickly maintain discussions with the fisherfolk to organize a separate manifesto for them throughout the impending meeting polls.

Taking a dig on the LDF authorities apparently over the continued controversy associated to the alleged deep sea fishing contract, the Congress chief stated he wish to see what they had been going to do with the trawlers.

“I am for competition…but not for unfair competition. So, there should be a level playing filed for everyone,” he added.

Gandhi’s interplay with the fishermen assumes significance because the Congress-led UDF has raised allegations in opposition to the Left authorities within the state over an alleged deep sea fishing contract with a US-based firm.

In the wake of the controversy, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had directed the officers involved to cancel the MoU between EMCC, the US-based agency and Kerala State Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC), a public sector enterprise and probe the circumstances beneath which it was signed.