Ahmedabad: After holding five rallies in eastern tribal belt of Gujarat, opposition Congress party has now shifted its focus to fishermen community which lives on western coastal belt of Gujarat. Former president of Gujarat Congress Arjun Modhwadia who hails from coastal town Porbandar in Saurashtra region has been chosen by party to lead the ‘Kinara Bachao Abhiyan’ under which 16 public meetings of fishermen community are planned. The final public meeting which shall be held at Umargaon will be a major one. It will be addressed by party leader Ahmed Patel.

One unique feature of Kinara Bachao Abhiyan is the use of boat and selection of sea routes. Modhwadia is traveling in a fishing boat decorated with Congress flags. His security staff, boatmen and few close party workers are travelling with him aboard.

When asked about his experience on the first day of yatra, Arjunbhai speaking to DeshGujarat over phone call said,’we have generally seen land beneath the foot and sky on the top, but here is the experience where water occupied surface and sky is there on the top. When traveling in boat, it feels how tough is the life of fishermen. I have yet spent just a night on fishing boat but fishermen spend upto 8 months on fishing boat.’

Arjunbhai further said, ‘the week-long yatra is constant with halts on the route for public meeting purpose. We are moving with two fishing boats. I will travel upto Jafrabad in boat. Due to unavailability of landing port, the yatra then will proceed through land route. In South Gujarat, we will again take sea route between Dahej and Umargaon which is the final destination.”

On his first night experience aboard fishing boat Modhwadia said, the lunch plans had to be altered due to adverse current and wind direction between Mandvi to Sikka.

One announcement Modhwadia has made in the course of yatra is formation of ‘Kinara Vikas Board’ if Congress is elected to power. Leave this and rest of the part of Modhwadia’s speeches is full of comparison between Congress and BJP governments as far as delivery to fishermen community is concerned.

Modhwadia said ‘Kinara Vikas Board’ will be formed if Congress is elected to power, for holistic development of coastal Gujarat involving all aspects including coastal agriculture, aquaculture, boating, tourism and more.

DeshGujarat