National Fishermen Conference valedictory: Sushma Swaraj addresses fishermen
Mangalore Today News Network
Mangalore, April 30: “I am not a fish eater and am happy about it because fish eaters nowadays eat fishermen too, but Nithin Gadkari and I have sworn to protect them,” declared Sushma Swaraj, the leader of the opposition party in Loksabha, in her speech at the valedictory ceremony of the 2-day National Fishermen Conference (west coast) organized by the National Fishermen’s Cell (NFC) at Sanghanikethan on April 30, Saturday.
She began her speech with the Kannada words “aayavittu swalpa samaya kodimatte kannadalle mathadthene,” impressing the people at the convention. Speaking on various issues related to the fishing community, she said that fishermen have the right to life and liberty, habitation, livelihood, education, and health and regretted the fact that they are killed by the Shri Lankan Navy and are made to languish in Pakistani jails for years. She added that 150 fishermen were released after a complaint lodged with the central government.
Stating that the killing of Indian fishermen by the Shri Lankan Navy is not acceptable, she urged the BJP government to take the required steps for their protection. When a fisherman fails to return home, the government provides compensation after 7 years, and throughout those 7 years, the family has to suffer, she said. Urging the central government to provide loans to fishermen at 4 percent interest, she promised that the resolution will not only be passed at assembly, but will also be implemented.
K. S. Eshwarappa, the state president of the BJP, presided over the event and said that the BJP-led state government is the first to provide such excellent facilities to fishermen, weavers, minorities, and backward communities. He also assured that the BJP will cover 24 seats in assembly, expressing confidence that even 28 seats can be covered if Sushma Swaraj gives her support.
Muralidhar Rao, the national secretary of the BJP, said that the BJP government is working not only for the welfare of fishermen, but also fish eaters.
Addressing the gathering, MP D. V. Sadananada Gowda said that all the 3 MPs of DK, Udupi, and Karwar are from the BJP. Speaking about the challenges posed by the CRZ to fishermen, he urged Sushma Swaraj to raise this issue in Assembly because it is for the welfare of fishermen. Regarding the ice kits provided to fishermen, he said that the ice kits will assist fishermen to sell high quality fish since the coastal region in Udupi, DK, and Karwar do not have advanced weather tracing facilities. Urging the government to upgrade fishing centres, he said that the central government has reserved funds to construct a retention wall to check sea erosion.
MLA Lalaji R. Mendon, the joint convener of the NFC; Muraleedhar Rao, the national secretary of the BJP; Dr. Prakash Malgave, the national convener of NFC; MP Nalin Kumar Kateel; B. Nagaraj Shetty, the chairman of the Coastal Development Authority; Padmanabha Kottari, the BJP district president; Yashpal Suvarna, the president of the Fish Marketing Federation; and others were also present.