Gujarat Congress delegation meets PM

New Delhi, Nov 8 (UNI) A high-level Congress delegation from Gujarat today met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and sought central intervention in the context of complaints about resettlement and rehabilitation of 2002 riot victims and flood relief disbursement.

In a memorandum submitted to Dr Singh, the delegation, led by Congress President Sonia Gandhi's Political Secretary Ahmed Patel, urged the Centre to prevail upon Pakistan to release about 500 fishermen from the Gujarat coast who have been languishing in jail there for the past four years.

The delegation, which also had AICC General Secretary in charge of Gujarat B K Hariprasad, Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee President Bharatsinh Solanki and Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Arjunsinh Modhvadia, brought to the attention of the Prime Minister the delay on the part of the state government in preparing a project report on his proposal to construct a memorial in commemoration of the historic Dandi march and a national highway linking the Dandi march route totalling 375 km. Dr Singh had announced the projects at a function last year to commemorate the 76th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's Dandi march.

Mr Modhvadia told UNI after the meeting that Dr Singh assured the delegation that he would take up the issues raised by them with the ministries concerned and do the needful.

He said the state government had not taken any step to resettle and rehabilitate nearly 10,000 families who have also been identified as the victims of the 2002 riots. "Though 50,000 affected families have been rehabilitated, there are still 10,000 families to be given the benefit." Pointing out that the Centre had released adequate quantum of fund to the state government for this purpose, he said the delegation urged Dr Singh to monitor the rehabilitation and resettlement activities and ensure that all the victims were given the benefit of the scheme.

The delegation complained that the flood relief assistance of Rs 500 crore given by the Centre was not properly utilised by the state. It asked the Centre to announce a package for different segments affected by recent floods.

Mr Modhvadia said Pakistan's marine security agencies had captured 300 mechanised boats and about 1,500 fishermen four years ago while they were fishing in the mid-sea. About 1,000 fishermen had so far been released. However, 500 fishermen were still in the custody of Pakistan. The seized boats were also not released so far.

The delegation requested Dr Singh to take up the issue with the Pakistan government and get the remaining fishermen and the boats released. It said compensation should be given to the fishermen if their boats could not be returned to them.

UNI SH/SN VA DB1912