Groups representing the interests of fisheries workers plan held a general strike in coastal areas throughout Kerala State today, February 27. Organizers have called the action to condemn planned cooperation between the state-owned Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation and a US-based multinational company.

The coastal strike has been called by the opposition to protest the manner in which the ruling Left government tried to go forward with the fishing project deal that will be a blow to the fisher community in the coastal state.

Inaugurating the day-long protest near the famed tourist seaside destination, Kovalam,  former Congress Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has led from the front in cheating the fishing community.

 “Had the fraudulent deep-sea deal gone forward, the entire fishing sector would have gone into the hands of a few. The fishing sector has by now realized that Vijayan had other interests and hence, this is the opportunity for them to throw Vijayan and his government into the sea,” said Oommen Chandy. Similar protests were held at Kollam and Kozhikode.

For the Congress-led opposition, the fishing deal has come an opportunity to take on the Left government. The fisher folks are rallying behind the opposition against Vijayan.

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