Protests against CM a ‘political game’ by local Congress leaders: Kodiyeri Balakrishnan

Thiruvananthapuram: CPI-M state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan Friday said that the protest against the Chief Minister fisherfolk at Vizhinjam was a "political game" played by certain local Congress leaders in the state.

Pinarayi Vijayan had faced hostile fisherfolk at nearby Vizhinjam coast when he visited the area last Sunday. Ministers Thomas Isaac, Kadakampally Surendran and J Mercykutty had also faced the ire of fisherfolk, who alleged that the government failed to act on time in the wake of Cyclone Ockhi.

"It has been described by a section of the media as a protest by fishermen in the area. But, actually it was a political game deliberately played by some Congressmen," Balakrishnan said in an article in 'Deshabhimani', the party organ.

There should not be any political discrimination at a time when the state is slowly overcoming the damage caused by the cyclone, he said, adding the CPI-M-led LDF government took all possible steps for the rescue of victims.

The CPI-M leader also said the Centre has the responsibility to declare the cyclone as a national disaster and take further relief measures in this regard.

The state government had announced a relief amount of Rs 20 lakh each to the next of kin of fishermen, who lost their lives in the cyclone, he added.

The cyclone that hit various parts of the state on November 29 and 30 has claimed as many as 37 lives, mostly fishermen.

The state government Friday put the number of fishermen missing in the cyclone as 101.

However, various fishermen outfits in the coastal belts of nearby Vizhinjam, Poonthura, Adimalathura, and Pozhiyur have claimed that the number of missing persons will be more than 300.