Thiruvananthapuram: A six member team of the Vizhinjam protesters, including Latin vicar general Fr Eugene Perera, met Rahul Gandhi at Pattam here on Monday.
Fr Perera said that the group shared the concerns of the fisherfolk with Rahul, who is in Thiruvananthapuram as part of his 'Bharat Jodo Yatra.' Rahul will also be meeting the SilverLine protesters.
The Latin Church had earlier decided to intensify the protest against the Port at Vizhinjam in the coming days. A circular issued by Archbishop Dr Thomas J Neto, and read in churches on Sunday, said the protest was for just demands.
He urged all believers to participate in the march to Vizhinjam port next Sunday. This is the third continuous Sunday circular issued by the Church, seeking the laity's support for the protest.
The stir has already crossed 28 days, and the hunger strike launched as part of the agitation also completed eight days on Monday.
The protesters are planning to take out an awareness campaign starting from Moolampilly in Ernakulam district on September 14 to Vizhinjam. (Residents of Moolampilly were evicted from their homes for the construction of the transhipment port at Vallarpadom. There are allegations that many of those evicted got a rough deal fron the state.)
This march would be organised with the support of the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Conference (KCBC) and various organisations representing fisherfolk and environmentalists. Kerala Latin Catholic Bishop Conference and Coastal Area Development Agency for Liberation would arrange this programme.
Yet another march is planned on September 18 from the Vizhinjam fishing harbour to the site of the port project.
