Fish workers’ hartal on April 8

The Kerala Fisheries Coordination Committee has issued a call for a Statewide hartal on April 8 to press the government to reject the recommendations of the Meenakumari Committee on deep-sea fishing and the proposal for a 61-day ban on motorised fishing by the Saida Rao Committee. A press note issued by the committee here on Monday said fish workers would stay away from work, force fish markets to down shutters, and block vehicular traffic along the coast as part of the hartal. They would also stage a dharna in front of 13 post offices and the international airport, Thiruvananthapuram, to press their demands. The press note said a Parliament march was also being planned for May. — Special Correspondent