Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI-M] leader and former Minister for Fisheries S. Sarma has said the controversial Dr. Meenakumari Committee report was drafted to favour vested-interest groups in the fisheries sector. Dr. Meenakumari acted as a tool of these groups on directions from those in power at the Centre. This was clear as there was no connection between the facts mentioned in the report and the actual marine data, Mr. Sarma has said.
He was addressing members of the fishing community after inaugurating Sagara Sangamam, a protest at the sea off the Neendakara estuary, on Saturday. It was organised by the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU)-affiliated Kerala State Matsya Thozhilali Federation in protest against the Union government’s move to impose a 61-day ban on marine fishing.
Members from the traditional and mechanised fishing sectors took part in the protest by sailing in their fishing vessels to the estuary. Mr. Sarma, who addressed them from a fishing vessel, called for a joint Parliamentary probe into the grounds on which the Meenakumari committee reached its conclusions.
After the inaugural address, the fishermen took a pledge to oppose the ban.
