ALAPPUZHA: Congress president Rahul Gandhi , who felicitated fishermen took part in the rescue operations during the deadliest flood in the state, on Tuesday said that God’s Own Army(fishermen) would have its own ministry at the Centre once the Congress comes into power.

Speaking at the function held at Camelot Convention Centre at Pathirapally, Alappuzha , he said Coast Guard should also involve the fishermen in the rescue operations in future. While starting his speech, Rahul apologised to fishermen for coming late to the function. Though the Congress leaders announced that Rahul Gandhi would come at noon for felicitating fishermen, he reached at 1.20pm. "I last came to see my dear fishermen brother and sisters. when you were hit by cyclone Ockhi last time. I visited your houses and I spoke to you and I must stay looking back I was not happy with the amount of help you received for the damage you suffered at the time of cyclone,’’ he said.

"Both the fishermen and farmers are facing same uncertainty in life. The fishermen do not know how much fish would they be able to catch. There is significant amount of risk that you face every single day in life. The Ocean is a dangerous place and you face its wrath many times. But today, very much like farmers, fishermen are also in a very difficult position. Though, you were passing through all your difficulty and hardship in life, when Kerala needed you at crisis, you stood with them and saved the state. I am saluting for your bravery and commitment to the Kerala people,’’ Rahul said.

He said that 3,000 fishermen saved 70,000 people from flood. "This is not a small thing. This is a huge thing and on behalf of all those people you saved, I would like to say thank you very much. It is not clear for me how should I felicitate you through words. How should we stand by you like you stood by the people of Kerala at the time of crisis. So I am promising the moment the Congress comes into power at the Centre, we are going to make ministry for the well- being of fishermen. So your voice can be heard and your problems can be settled at the national level, ‘’ he said.

