Chennai: Fishermen in Rameswaram today opposed the hike in diesel prices and demanded an increase in monthly diesel subsidies. Talking to the media, Rameswaram Fishermen's Association Secretary Sagayam said they have started a strike against the hike in diesel prices and demanded that the Tamil Nadu government increase the monthly subsidy on 1,800 litres of diesel to 3,000 litres.

He further said, 'We have more than 700 machine-made boats in Rameswaram. But at the moment we cannot use those boats because the price of diesel has gone up to Rs 98 per litre." Sagayam said, "Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) had promised to increase diesel subsidy in his election manifesto, but no such announcement has been made in the Budget. We are very disappointed with this."

Fishermen said they suffer losses caused by high diesel costs, a decline in fishing and the inability to operate boats. He urged the Central Government to take prompt action to save their livelihood and protect the fishing industry that earns large amounts of foreign exchange. He also demanded a fair price for fish.

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