Pastoral letter to call for intensifying protests

Thiruvananthapuram: The Latin archdiocese has decided to read a pastoral letter in all churches in the district on Sunday calling for strengthening the agitation at Vizhinjam port demanding that a scientific study to assess the impact of the port work on the shoreline be conducted by stopping the construction.
The decision to read the pastoral letter was taken after the discussions with the state government have failed to yield any results and a recent high court order directed to provide necessary police protection to the Adani Group in going ahead with the port construction.
The Samara Samithi has also decided to hold an indefinite hunger strike from Monday as part of intensifying the protest measures. Former archbishop of Latin archdiocese M Soosapakyam will undergo a hunger strike on Monday and various bishops and religious leaders will join in the coming days.
The general convener of Samara Samithi, Eugine H Pereira said that some people have made attempts to sabotage the stir by joining hands with the Adani Group.
“The regional collective campaigning against the Vizhinjam protest is run by people close to the Adani Group. We have got pictures of them staying with the company’s top people at luxury hotels in the district. Such moves will not be successful as our goal is virtuous. We are protesting raising genuine demands to save the fisherfolk who lead a pathetic life,” said Periera.
The protest held by the fisherfolk on Saturday was peaceful as they sat inside the tent raising slogans.