Kanyakumari: Tamil Nadu Governor, Banwarilal Purohit refused to backtrack from his plan of visiting the worst affected cyclone-hit areas in Kanyakumari district in the wake of a massive fishermen's protest on Thursday. "Instead he altered his plans and first visited the fishermen's families at Colachel," said a police officer.
Commencing his day by offering prayers at the historically popular Bagavathi Amman temple at Kanyakumari and Thanumalaiyan temple at Suchindram, the governor, hearing of the massive fishermen rally against the government, altered his earlier plan of inspecting the non-fishermen areas around Suchindram first and then visit the bereaving coastal people.
"No other person in his place would prefer going to meet fishermen, when the wrath of the entire community is upon the government," commented a police officer. Unlike the seasoned leaders, the governor was least bothered about a section shouting at him in anguish and held discussions with the local fishermen leaders led by the Colachel Parish priest at a community hall nearby Colachel bus terminus.
Later, after the meeting, the governor visited the family of John Davidson, who was killed in the cyclone. The governor gave a fatherly hug and consoled the wife of John Davidson and assured all possible assistance to the family from the government. Outside John Davidson's house, he interacted with the local villagers and promised to let the elected governments of the state and the centre understands their grievances for better assistance.
Later, he also inspected the severely affected rubber farms at Thadikarankonam and the plantain crop damage at Therisanamkoppu villages in Kanyakumari district, to have first hand information about the damages. He also inspected the damages at Suchindram and Karkadu areas and promised due assistance from the government.
Later, after lunch governor Banwarilal Purohit visited Vivekananda Kendra, where he paid homage to Eknath Ramakrishna Ranade at his 'Samadhi'. It is to be noted that Ranade was instrumental in creating the rock memorial for Swami Vivekananda at sea in Kanyakumari. Later in the evening the governor held discussion with officials at the government guest house after which he met members of the public till he left Kanyakumari at 5.30 pm.
