Mah fishermen community to stage agitation

Thane, Jul 19: The fishermen (Koli) community of Maharashtra are set to stage serious agitation to support those members who are displaced from their jobs under the pretext of incorrect cast cerfificate.

Addressing to a news conference here today, President of Maharashtra Koli Samaj Sangh and Shiv Sena Deputy Leader Anant Tare, gave an ultimatum to the state government to issue an ordinance to undo action taken against the members of Koli community.

He said Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh had assured a delegation of Koli community members that even if the cast verification committee holds the cast certificates as invalid, the members of the Community would not be expelled from their services. ''The cut-off limit of such certificates would be extended to 2003, Mr Deshmukh had affirmed, which has not been implemented,'' Mr Tare pointed out.

Mr Tare said, if the ordinance is not brought into force within a month's period, then the members of Koli community would be left with no other alternative but to resort to serious agitation which would be self immolation in front of the district collectorates through out the state.

Former MLC of Konkan constituency representing the Local Self bodies, Mr Tare, said he would himself lead the agitation in Thane district.

Mr Tare said, ''During a meeting in year 2007, the Chief Minister had assured the delegation of Koli community that the ordinance in this respect would be promulgated immediately but nothing has been done till date.'' ''Our patience is over. Now its the time to take up agitation to fight till our demands are met,'' he declared.

The other demands of the Koli community members include, Koliwadas in Mumbai, FSI for Gaothan, grants for the fishermen, CMZ, and drought of fish.

At a meeting of the senior leaders of the Community, the entire issue of cast certificate was discussed and it was unanimously decided to take up serious agitation to awaken the government and get there demands fulfilled.

UNI