Congress vice- president Rahul Gandhi on Monday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Government at the Centre to withdraw the annual fishing ban along the coastal states.
Gandhi alleged that the government’s move will help big foreign trawlers.
“There is a very big issue in the coastal states. As usual, our government is going against the interest of the farmers, fishermen and labourers. Now, they have extended a fishing bank and they are allowing foreign trawlers to come in at the expense of our fishermen. And, this is affecting fishermen in all the coastal states.”
“The ‘suit-boot ki sarkar’ is not only harming farmers, it is harming every single person who is weak in this country. Every single person who works for his livelihood- fishermen, labourers, farmers- they all are being damaged by this government. The government should withdraw this ban and let our fishermen do their work,” he added.
Earlier, the Centre had promised to have a re-look into 61-day annual fishing ban along the coastal states after members from Tamil Nadu and Kerala raised the issue in the Lok Sabha. (ANI)