Pics: Abhijith N Kolpe
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru, Jan 6: Fishermen from the city lent full-fledged support to the mass protest held at Udupi on Sunday, January 6 over missing of a boat and seven fishermen.
The fishing work at Bunder old port was completely shut down and fishermen showed their solidarity to the protest. Fishing boats were out of service lending good support to the mass protest at Udupi.
Over 25,000 fishermen joined the protest. Along with the Mangaluru fishermen, fishermen from Udupi, Bhatkal and Karwar also took part in the mass protest.
Speaking to Daijiworld, one of the boat owners Rajarathna Sanil said, “It has been 21 days since 7 fishermen went missing with their boat. Government has neglected such serious issues. We demand separate fisheries ministry at the centre like we have it in the state, so that we can approach when such incidents occur. The home minister has given assurance, but we are not satisfied with it. If the boat had drowned, then the bodies and parts of the boat would have been found by now.
“Today, Mangaluru fishermen showed support to the protest. If the missing boat is not traced, then in every district there will be protests. We are demanding to include fisheries in agriculture ministry. If such incident occurs, all farmers unite. But for fishermen, who take risk in their life and go for fishing, have no support and security,” he said.
Speaking to Daijiworld, vice-president National Fish Workers Forum Vasudev Bolar said, “It is unfortunate that both the central and state government could not trace the boat in 21 days despite having advanced technology. Even action from both the governments is delayed. Home minister M B Patil has given the assurance and we expect the same support from central government as well. There is no security for fishermen.
“It is a long pending demand to form a separate fisheries ministry at the centre. We have kept the demand before Prime Minister Narendra Modi government and he has assured to fulfil it,” he said.