The Gujarat government has finally announced compensation to the families of three fishermen, who were on board Kuber which was hijacked by the Pakistani terrorists mid-sea for reaching Mumbai on November 26 last year.
The three fishermen have gone ‘missing’ as per government records but are presumed to have been killed by the terrorists.
“As a special case, the state government has given a compensation of Rs. 50,000 to each of the three fishermen’s family from the Chief Minister’s relief fund ,” Navsari Collector D.P. Joshi said.
The three fishermen belonged to a village in Navsari district in South Gujarat.
As per the notification issued by the state government, the compensation has been given to the families of Mukesh Rathod, Balwant Tandel and Natubhai Rathod, who have gone ’missing” ever since Kuber was hijacked by the terrorists who attacked Mumbai.
The state government has given the compensation with a condition that if the “missing” fishermen return home, the amount will have to be returned to it.
There were four fishermen including captain Amarsinh Solanki, who were on board Kuber when it was hijacked by the terrorists.
After the Mumbai attacks, the body of Solanki was found near Mumbai while others, believed to have been killed, remain untraced so far.
The Gujarat government has not given any compensation to the captain’s family while the Maharashtra government has paid Rs. five lakh.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Arjun Modhvadia has hit out at the Gujarat government for adopting “double standards” regarding compensation.
“After a year, the Modi government has paid a meagre compensation to the families of three fishermen while the captain’s family has been left out,” Modhvadia said, adding, .
“For Hemant Karkare, who died at the hands of terrorists, Modi had announced Rs. 1 crore, which was refused by Karkare’s wife.”
“If the government is serious and sincere, it should give much higher compensation to the families of those who were on board the ill-fated Kuber,” Modhvadia demanded.
