Won't let you down, says PM Modi

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi heard the woes of coastal population at Poonthura and promised the central government's full support to trace the missing fishermen and   rehabilitate the affected families. Mr Modi spoke to the fisherfolk at a community hall at  Poonthura after hearing them directly one-on-one. He said all help will be given as per the government's norms to the affected families, amid applause from the gathering.  "I pray to God Almighty for the reunion of the missing persons with their near and dear ones before Christmas," he said. He said that soon after the tragedy he had sent defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman to the affected areas. All support was given by the centre for surveillance and search operations.  

"The search operations being carried out by the Navy and Air force will continue. There are reports that many fishermen may have reached other countries after the cyclone. I have directed the ministry of external affairs and other agencies to get in touch with the authorities of those countries and establish contact with the fishermen to bring them back. Nearly 400 fishermen from the state had also reached Gujarat coast safely. I am told some of them had even gone back to sea for fishing," he added. "The whole country is with you in this hour of grief and tragedy. The central government is fully behind you. We will make all efforts and take all measures to find out  the missing persons. There will be no let up in our efforts to locate them," Mr Modi said.

The prime minister said many families had lost their means of livelihood. "We will consider their livelihood issues and provide all help as per the government norms. In this time of grief and tragedy, the central government will stand with you,"  he added. "Today the time is not for delivering lectures. It is a moment of sorrow, grief and tragedy. I assure you that the central government will be with you and we will not leave any stone unturned to help you," he said. His prayers were with the affected families. "I pray to God Almighty for the reunion of all fishermen, who are missing, with their families before Christmas. The government will make all efforts in this direction," he said.

The people belonging to six parishes waited for more than two-and-a-half hours for the prime minister at a special enclosure in the community hall at Poonthura. He entered the enclosure and spoke to fishermen and their family members seated in the first two enclosures. Most people there belonged to Poonthura and Valiyathura. At least four persons spoke about their problems and urged the PM to provide them help. The PM asked union minister Alphons  Kannanthanam to translate the pleas being made by fishermen.

Mr Modi  was accompanied by Governor P.  Sathasivam, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan,   Alphons Kannanthanam, ministers Kadakampally Surendran, J. Mercy Kutty Amma,  E. Chandrashekharan, V.S. Sivakumar MLA, Suresh Gopi MP, O. Rajagopal MLA and  BJP leader Kummanam Rajashekharan. The Latin Archdiocese was represented by Archbishop M. Soosa Pakiam, Vicar-General of the Thiruvananthapuram Archdiocese Fr Eugene H Pereira and other Church leaders. There was commotion after the prime minister left the place. Those who could not get a chance to speak were angry over the manner in which the entire meeting was conducted.