Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman called on the people of Tamil Nadu to reject what she described as misleading claims by opposition parties regarding the livelihood of traditional fishermen. Speaking at a gathering in Kottivakkam after distributing BJP membership cards, Sitharaman assured that the Modi-led government is prioritizing the welfare of traditional fishermen and is committed to protecting their rights.
Sitharaman highlighted that it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who initiated the establishment of a dedicated department for fisheries and fishermen’s welfare. She raised concerns about the growing influence of deep-sea trawlers, stating that the issue is set to be addressed at the World Trade Organization (WTO), where the Centre is working hard to ensure that the rights of traditional fishermen remain intact.
“The government is putting in maximum effort at the WTO, under PM Modi’s directive, to stress the importance of safeguarding the interests of traditional fishermen against the expanding deep-sea trawler industry,” she said. Sitharaman further stated that opposition parties are spreading baseless allegations that the livelihoods of traditional fishermen are being harmed, and reaffirmed that the Centre is actively working to protect their interests.
Source: DT NEXT
