Minister Jayamala Appeals Fishermen to Withdraw Protest and Rasta Roko
Udupi: The Udupi District minister in-charge Dr Jayamala said that the state government has taken measures to ensure that the search operations are carried out to trace the seven fishermen on board a missing fishing boat. The government is concerned and is committed to going to any extent in getting back the missing fishermen.
Speaking to media persons on January 5. at the Circuit house, Minister Jayamala said, “The fishermen’s pain is our pain. The state and central government are always with the family members of the missing fishermen. I appeal to the fishermen to withdraw the protest and ‘rasta roko’ on the National Highway 66 at Karavali Junction which is planned for Sunday, December 6”.
Minister Jayamala further said, “Seven rounds of search operations have been carried out with the help of the Coastal Security Police, Navy and Coast Guard personnel. The chief minister and the home minister are updated on the development concerning the search operations. She also said that the fisheries minister and the home minister will be visiting the district to discuss the future course of action. They will also meet the fishermen and discuss the issue”, she said.
Dr Jayamala also said that the state government has spoken to the Maharashtra and Goa governments and positive results are expected at the earliest.
“We are confident that the seven fishermen, who were on board the boat, will return safely. The fishermen community fear that fishermen have been kidnapped by sea pirates. The government has carried out search operations using the services of Coast Guard and Navy as well. The district administration has taken all the measures to ensure that search operations were carried out.”
She appealed to the community members not to lose hope. The Coastal Security Police, Coast Guard and fisheries department have already been alerted. The search operations have been carried out in Goa and Maharashtra as well, she added.
She said that the state government has already written to the armed forces to help in the search operations. All efforts are being made to trace the fishermen.
“We are aware of the conditions of the fishermen families. The Home Minister has visited Udupi and will discuss with the police officials on the future course of action. The fishermen should not live in fear,” she said.
She appealed to the fishermen to drop the proposed protest on January 6. “Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy will visit Udupi shortly. Let us all work in unity, to trace the missing fishermen.”
On IT raids, Jayamala said that IT officers were discharging their duties. “Nothing will happen to our Kannada film fraternity. Children of Rajkumar, actors Yash and Sudeep are honest. We have to pay our tax. I am confident that they have all paid their taxes,” she said.
Later Dr Jayamala visited and met the fishermen’s family members.