Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)
Udupi, Oct 19: "A massive convention will be held on November 21 in Uttara Kannada. National-level delegates and party leaders will be present. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is expected to attend," informed former MLA and chief secretary of KPCC U R Sabhapathi, on Thursday, October 19 at press club, here.
"Members of the committee expect a huge crowd at the convention," he said.
As per Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi's instructions, a meeting will be held in every district and block level committees will be formed.
U R Sabhapathi, who is also the president of Karnataka State Fishermen Congress said,"President of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee Dr G Parameshwara recently approved a new list of office-bearers for Karnataka State Fishermen Congress. The list includes 60 names from among 10 districts.
"Various demands will be placed through the committee. The first demand is the formation of a separate policy for fisheries. No uniform policy is in place at a national level. This causes conflict between states. Each state has a minister, but there is no minister for fisheries at the centre. The fisheries department is merged with the agricultural department and is kept unaddressed. Problems exist in inland fisheries," he said.
Sabhapathi further said, "There is a major demand for the fisher community to be classified under SC/ST category. This old proposal was recommended by the state government, but the centre rejected it. A new proposal was prepared by the state government.
"About 23 lac fishermen reside in the state. There are categories among fishermen. Many do not live in good conditions. The government should scrutinise the proposal of classifying them under the SC/ST community," he said.
"I hope fishermen get 10 seats in the assembly elections. The Karnataka State Fishermen Congress includes eight vice-presidents, a treasurer, seven general secretaries, five assistant secretaries, six secretaries, four organising secretaries and 21 executive committee members," he said.
Sabhapathi said, "District Fishermen Congress Committee presidents from eight districts are Mohan Bengre, Mangaluru (Dakshina Kannada), Manoj S Karkera Kundapura (Udupi), Manjunath Bovi (Haveri), Manjunath Balappa Bheemakka (Dharwad rural), Malakappa Siddappa Jeratagi (Bijapur), Basavarajappa R (Dawanagere) and B Lingayya (Mandya).
"The newly appointed vice-presidents are J Srinivasan, Bengaluru, Dr Choudhar, Bijapur, Lingaraju, Bengaluru, Keshav Kundar, Udupi, Rama M Mogera, Bhatkal, Hiriyanna Kundapura, Sarala Kanchan, and Shekhar Suvarna Mangaluru," he informed.
Answering a question about contesting elections Sabhapathi said, "I am not interested in contesting the upcoming assembly election. I have decided my political journey for days to come. I will continue with the party's work.
"The Congress government introduced diesel subsidy, the first of its kind in the budget. At present, although crude oil prices fell in the international market, a fluctuating remained in the nation," he said.
Vice presidents of District Fishermen Congress Committee, Keshav Kundar, Udupi, Rama M Mogera, Bhatkal, Sarala Kanchan, Shekhar Suvarna, Mangaluru were present.