Rahul Gandhi, who is campaigning in front of the polls in Kerala, ventured out to sea with fishermen (PTI Photo)
Kollam, Kerala:
In search of the fishing community in Kerala, the leader of the Congress, Rahul Gandhi, today had an interaction with the fishermen at the Thangassery beach in the Kollam district in Kerala. During his interaction, Mr. Gandhi again called for a separate Ministry of Fisheries, although the center was actually inspected last week.
Rahul Gandhi, who has been touring the state for the past two days, also ventured out to sea with fishermen in their boat.
After starting his journey from Vadi Beach in Kollam at 04:30, he spent almost an hour with them before reaching the place of interaction.
He also cast the net and fished with them.
The congress leader, dressed in a blue t-shirt and khaki trousers, can be seen waving from the boat with his hands to the spectators as he stretches back to the shore.
Congress general secretary KC Venugopal and TN Prathapan MP, also chairman of the National Fishermen Congress, also accompanied him during his voyage.
During the interaction, Rahul Gandhi said he always wants to experience the life of fishermen.
“Early this morning I went to sea with my brothers. From the moment the boat returned, they took all the risk … all their labor. They searched for the sea, bought the net and someone else earned the profit. “Mr. Gandhi said.
“We tried fishing but only got one. Even with this investment, the net came back empty. That was my experience,” he added.
Despite a reprimand from the center for the first time, Rahul Gandhi again said he would strive to have a separate ministry for fisheries at the center. Addressing fishermen on a recent visit to Puducherry, Rahul Gandhi called them ‘farmers of the sea’ and spoke of the need for a separate Ministry of Fisheries. In addition to the fact that there is already one, Giriraj Singh, Minister of Fisheries, and several other BJP leaders pointed it out.
“So that the issues of the fishing community can be defended and protected,” he said, adding that UDF leaders in the state will soon consult with the fishing people to prepare a separate manifesto for them during the impending meetings.
The Congress leader apparently looked at the LDF government over the ongoing controversy surrounding the alleged deep-sea fishing contract, and he would like to see what they are going to do with the trailers.
“I’m in favor of competition … but not for unfair competition. So, there should be an equal game for everyone,” he added.
Rahul Gandhi’s interaction with the fishermen becomes important because the Congress-led UDF has raised allegations against the Left government in the state over a suspected deep-sea fishing contract with a US company.
In the wake of the controversy, Prime Minister Pinarayi Vijayan ordered officials concerned to cancel the MoU between EMCC, the US company and Kerala State Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC), a public sector company, and the circumstances under which it was investigated , to investigate. signed.
(With input from PTI)