Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan on Sunday rejected Opposition allegations of lapses in the search for three fishermen who went missing following separate boat mishaps in Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram districts, saying continuous operations had been underway for the past nine days. The CPI(M), CPI and BJP had accused the government of delays in mounting a full-scale search after the fishermen went missing off Neendakara in Kollam and Vizhinjam and Muthalappozhi in Thiruvananthapuram on July 31.
Speaking at an event, Satheesan said the government had been carrying out sustained efforts to locate the missing fishermen with assistance from the Centre. He contrasted the operation with the previous LDF government's tenure, claiming that 148 fishermen had gone missing during that period without such a prolonged search being undertaken. “Where else has a search been conducted for nine days?” Satheesan asked, rejecting criticism of the government's response. The Chief Minister also highlighted changes made by his government to compensation rules for families of fishermen who go missing at sea. “If a fisherman goes missing at sea, his family has to wait for seven years to receive compensation. This government changed all that. There is no time to lose,” he said.
BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar said he did not want to enter into a controversy over the rescue operation and confirmed that a state government minister had contacted him seeking assistance from the Centre. “I immediately spoke to the defence minister and the PMO. From noon that day, the Coast Guard and Navy were completely mobilised. Their search has been going on for nine to 10 days,” Chandrasekhar said. Describing the incidents as tragic, the Nemom MLA said he planned to meet the families of the missing fishermen. “It is my prayer and hope that they will be found,” he said.
CPI(M) leader P Rajeev, however, criticised the UDF government's handling of the situation and said it was unfortunate that relatives of the missing fishermen had been forced to protest to demand an effective search. “Was there a situation in the past where a mother, a wife and a child all had to come out onto the streets and roads like this?” Rajeev asked. He alleged that coordination under the UDF government had failed, resulting in distress among the affected families.
BJP MLA V Muraleedharan also criticised Satheesan, alleging that neither the Chief Minister nor the fisheries minister had visited the families of the missing fishermen. “The approach adopted by the CM and the minister towards the families of the fishermen who met with the tragedy is insulting to them,” Muraleedharan said. He said the episode had vindicated the Latin Catholic Church's demand that the fisheries portfolio be entrusted to someone with adequate experience.
Muraleedharan strongly objected to Satheesan's comparison with the 148 fishermen he said had gone missing during the previous LDF government's tenure. He asked whether the Chief Minister intended to wait until the number of missing fishermen under the present government reached the same figure and described Satheesan's remarks as “heinous”. “Every life is precious. The CM's remarks have made Malayalis hang their heads in shame,” Muraleedharan said. He demanded that Satheesan withdraw his remarks and apologise to the fishing community as the search for the three missing fishermen continued.