Mangaluru: Several leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party hailing from the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Uttara Kannada and also, Shimoga unilaterally condemn the Central Government decision to permit multinational companies to conduct deep sea fishing in Indian waters. They have stated that this decision will spell disaster for the millions of Indian fishermen and their families who entirely depend on the ocean and all it beholds.
The excuse given by the government that Indians are not capable of deep water fishing, due to which a lot of fish stock moves away from Indian waters appears to be a lame excuse given by the government. They said that the government has not considered major risks that the MNCs can pose in destroying the livelihood of Indian fishermen and also of causing grave danger to the delicate marine ecology. This raises a doubt if the BJP, which is ruling the Central Government, has any vested interests to go against the people and the environment.
Karnataka has a vast coastline of 320 KMs, throughout which thousands of families along the coast depend on fishing, along with farming, as their only occupation. There are many businessmen and industries that depend on fisheries. Due to inadequate availability of fish stocks, the fish prices have skyrocketed. Fishermen and their families go through a lot of hardship through the vagaries of monsoons and lack of financial support from the government. Now, instead of providing the much needed support, relief and encouragement to the Indian fishermen, the government is considering this retrograde step to affect people’s living means.
It is interesting to ask why the central government does not consider supporting the Indians with investment and loans? While the Central government was ready and willing to provide a massive Rs 6,000 crore loan to an Indian capitalist to invest in Australian coal mines, then what prevents the government in investing in Indian businesses or cooperatives comprising of our fishermen to undertake deep sea fishing? There are many cooperatives in the country, especially in agriculture production, such as cotton growers in Maharashtra, sugarcane growers in UP etc who are given support from the central and state governments and loan facilities from the banks, so why not do the same for fisheries cooperatives in respective states? What is Karnataka Fisheries Development Corporation doing in this regard? Why is the State government silent?
It is also important to ask whether the country not have technology that will prevent Indians from doing deep water fishing? While PM Modi is inviting everyone to Make in India, Indian scientists have proved their superiority in ensuring first attempt success in the complex Mars Mission,and just two days ago in Bangalore, the PM has expressed confidence of making all aviation and aerospace products in India! So, AAP wishes to ask if deep sea fishing is as complex as rocket science?
Lastly, let us also examine the effects of deep sea fishing on marine ecology and what has been the action by other countries. Reports indicate that the parliamentarians from Great Britain have demanded their government to convince the concerned authorities to ban deep sea fishing in Europe, based on a report presented by marine scientists on the dangers of deep sea fishing.
AAP has taken up several issues concerning local people and environment in the past. Its leaders like MedhaPatkar have held Save Narmada movement and our Shimoga leader K G Sreedhar has participated in Save River Tunga movement in his district. Its leader S P Udayakumar led a movement of fishermen in Tirunelveli to fight against the dangerous Kodankulam Nuclear plant and its Bhopal leader RachanaDhingra has worked for the Bhopal Gas Tragedy victims. The party will always take up issues concerning the people and environment, so the party expresses its solidarity for the fishermen of Karnataka coast that it will fight for their rights.
AAP therefore demands the State Government to take up the issue strongly with the Central Government and do not allow any MNC companies to operate on the coast of Karnataka. If this is not done, the party warns both the governments that it will not hesitate to take up bigger protests in the coming days.
The above details were furnished during the press meet held at Mangalore Press Club by Leaders of Aam Aadmi Party from the Dakshina Kannada Districts of Rajendar Kumar Treasurer, Alexander D’Souza- Team Leader; Udupi Dist and Chikamagalur S. H. Gurudev- Mentor; Uttara Kannada Dist Raghavendra Thane- Mentor; and Shivamogga Dist. Sreedhar Kalllahalla- Mentor. Other AAP Members present Dr Merica Pinto, M R Vasudeva, Rohan Shiri, M Salim and others.
