Ahmedabad: In a memorandum to BJP`s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) on Thursday demanded that the party`s manifesto include how issues related to fishermen would be addressed.
The memorandum demanded that the BJP should include in its manifesto a policy of not arresting Pakistani fishermen, which would in turn lead to no arrest of Indian fishermen by that country.
Pondicherry-based NGO called National Fisherworkers` Forum (NFF) and a Delhi-based NGO called `Pakistan-India People`s Forum for Peace and Democracy` (PIPFPD) sent their memoranda to BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi today through registered post.
"We demand incorporation of the fishing community`s demands in your party`s manifesto or else the community will boycott the next general elections," the NFF`s M Ilango said.
Gujarat has the longest sea coast (1,600 km) in the entire country with lakhs of fishermen voters.
The NGO groups which made a memoranda of demands under a joint forum, requested reddressal of long-pending issues of the fishing community.
Fishermens` fora in Pakistan and India have also demanded implementation of a `no arrest policy` under an agreement signed by both governments during the 1999 Lahore summit.
"We demand declaration of a `no arrest policy` for Pakistani fishermen and boats, so that there is prompt reciprocal action by the Pakistan government on this issue," the joint NGO forum said.
"There are 232 Indian fishermen in Pakistani jails and 139 Pakistani fishermen in Indian prisons. They should be released immediately," Jatin Desai of the PIPFPD said.
"The forum has also demanded the release of around 817 Indain trawling boats captured by Pakistan`s Maritime Security. The forum has also sought compensation of Rs 3 lakh each for the families of fishermen who are serving their prison terms in Pakistani jails," Desai said.
The forum also insisted declaration of compensation worth Rs 5 lakh for families of fishermen who died either in Pakistan`s prisons or in mid-sea due to Pakistani firing.
"This (fishermen) community`s demand has gone unheard, since there is no separate ministry which deals with their issues," the memorandum of demands said.
"We insist on bifurcation of the Union Agriculture Ministry and creation of a separate ministry for Fisheries and Fishermens` Welfare," it said.
"Political parties should also include the demand for a joint fishing zone and an economic co-operation agreement by both the countries," representatives of the forum demanded.
The forum, which had earlier met leaders of all political parties`, plans to reach out to fishermen in the eight coastal states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Odisha and West Bengal.
