Porbandar Boat association urges PM to bring fishermen home

Ahmedabad, Feb 4: Porbandar Fishermen Boat association has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to initiate efforts to bring back the jailed Indian fishermen and their boats from Pakistan.

In a letter addressed to Modi, the association's president Manish Lodhari claimed that there are around 440 Indian fishermen, mostly from Gujarat, and around 860 boats in the custody of Pakistan.

He also claimed that out of these 860, 604 boats belong to Porbandar. Lodhari expressed hopes that looking at the current "amicable" atmosphere between the two countries, it will be easier now to bring the fishermen and their boats back home.

Claiming that even Pakistani authorities are willing to release the fishermen, Lodhari urged Modi to take prompt action. He also stated that families of the fishermen are living in miserable conditions and eagerly waiting for their family members to return.

"Out of the 860 boats captured by Pakistani authorities in the recent past, 115 are in good shape and can be brought back. If these boats will not be brought here soon, they will also become useless," the letter, sent yesterday, stated.

Lodhari also sent a separate letter to Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh about the release of subsidy to fishermen under the soft loan package.

According to him, most fishermen in Gujarat have received the subsidy of Rs 5 lakh given by Agriculture Ministry and Rs 6 lakh under the PM Relief Fund.

He, however, claimed that there are still 60 fishermen who have not yet received the benefit. Meanwhile, son of a fisherman from Gujarat who died in a Pakistan jail in December, has also written to the Prime Minister urging him to intervene and expedite the process of bringing back his father's body to their village in Girsomnath district.

PTI