Rahul admires fishermen in Kerala, sails with them and promises to consider their demands
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday sought to reach out to fishermen in poll-bound Kerala, assuring them his party would include their needs in its election manifesto as he sailed with a group of fishers and expressed admiration for their work in sea braving all odds.
During an emotional interaction with thousands of fisherfolk, including women, at Thangassery beach in this southern coastal district, he also lashed out at the LDF government over the controversial pact for building trawlers, claiming it might affect the livelihood of fishermen. “I understand and respect what you do. I admire what you are doing. Many times, we eat the fish but we will not understand the hard work behind and how it reached our plate,” the Congress MP representing Wayanad in the state said.
He ventured into the sea with some fishermen in their boat from Vadi beach here around 4.30 am and spent nearly an hour with them before reaching the venue of interaction. Gandhi also cast the net with them but could only catch one squid.
Clad in blue t-shirt and khaki trousers, the Congress leader could be seen waving hands to the onlookers from the boat while reaching back to the shores.
He told the fishermen that his party was consulting with various sections of society in order to prepare the election manifesto for the assembly polls, likely in April-May, and that their demands would be included and fulfilled.
Gandhi, who wound up his two-day tour of the state after the interaction, recalled he had pointed out in the Congressled UDF meeting held here on Tuesday that the front should have a dedicated fishermen manifesto.
“So I would like the fishermen of Kerala and the Congress party and the UDF to have a conversation in the next two-three weeks and decide what they want in the manifesto,” he said.