Silvester D’Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Byndoor (SP)
Byndoor, Oct 13: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal (BD), taking strong exception to the decision of a particular community deciding to boycott fish purchases from Gangolli fishing port, have decided to extend moral support to the fisherwomen who sell fishes in Gangolli, and who are being targeted. The community has boycotted fish purchases there because of the fact that fisherwomen from Gangolli were among those who took part in a mega Padayatra organized in Gangolli sometime back to register protest against theft and slaughter of cows.
Leaders of Kundapur units of these two organizations, and workers of Nandagokula cashew factory extended unequivocal support to the fisherwomen at Gangolli fish market on Tuesday October 12 and instilled confidence in them. They told the fish vending women that in course of time, Hindus from different villages will come to Gangolli to purchase fishes and asked them not to lose heart at any cost.
Addressing the gathering, member of the central board of trustees of VHP, Premananda Shetty, condemned those who boycotted fish purchases in Gangolli and forced their community members to do the same. He said that an attempt is being made to dent the self-confidence of these women who sell fish to meet their daily expenses, by staying away from the fish market continuously. He said that the Hindu organizations were there to bring back confidence in the fisherwomen and expressed the resolve to support the women fish vendors irrespective of who boycotts or attacks the vendors. He also said that the organizations are determined to resist the boycott call and that the organisations will be firmly backing these women irrespective of challenges they might face.
"For thousands of years, boycotts have been used as a weapon by this community all over the country as part of widespread conspiracy. The conspiracy is to separate Hindus from the nation, but this conspiracy will fail. Hindus have woken up now and have ready been giving a fitting reply. If the community faces attack or threat anywhere in India, we are there to support them. This particular community had won our confidence so far by acting as if they were with us, but now suddenly tried to crush the traders here. We are steadfastly behind the fishermen," he asserted.
VHP Kundapur taluk president Vijayakumar Shetty Goliangady, BD district convener Surendra Koteshwar, VHP Sampark Pramukh Girish Kundapur, BD taluk convener Sudhir, taluk Math Mandir Pramukh Srinivas Kunder, BMS honorary president K T Satish, cashew workers and others were present in large numbers.