THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: While state ministers continued to face the wrath of the coastal population, union defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman and veteran CPM leader V.S. Achuthanadnan were received by fishermen without any protest on Monday. Ms Sitharaman, who spoke to the fishermen’s families at Poonthura and Vizhinjam, even received applause for showing concern and empathy towards the affected families. Devaswom minister Kadakampally Surendran and fisheries minister J. Mercy Kutty Amma, who accompanied the union minister, were singled out by the fishermen at Poonthura and even asked to go back.
The fishermen said they didn’t want the two ministers there. They sought to know as to why Chief Minister who went to Vizhinjam on Sunday failed to visit Poonthura. A section of fishermen accused the state government of failing to provide timely warning to fishermen ahead of cyclone Ockhi. They alleged that fisheries minister had insulted the fishermen. However, Ms Sitharaman managed to control the situation by making a sincere appeal to the fishermen not to get violent.
Mr Achuthanandan, who visited Poonthura and Vizhjiam, was well received by fishermen at both the places. The administrative reforms commission chairman told the coastal population that he understood their grief and concern. He assured to take up their demands with the state government and the Centre. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had faced angry protesters at Vizhinjam on Sunday.
