T’puram: The family of John Mathias (54), who was reported missing on Jul 31 off Vizhinjam, demanded an apology from CM V D Satheesan over his reported remark that this was not the first time a fisherman had gone missing at sea. Jiji, the daughter of Mathias, said such remarks were inappropriate for a chief minister and urged the state govt to be more sensitive when commenting on such issues.“I stand firm on my demand that the CM should apologise. He should not have said so while holding his position. His statement has become an insult for the community,” she said, adding that she had raised the issue with ministers who visited her family.“Those who should speak about it are silent. At least in future, such remarks should not be made in a manner that humiliates or suppresses a set of people. The CM should not forget that our votes too were needed to secure the win in polls,” she said. Jiji said she was not insisting that the CM must visit her family but stressed that the priority must be the search for the missing fishermen.She also criticised the fisheries minister, questioning his understanding of the community’s issues. “Does he have anything to do with the fisheries department? All I can say is that he has no knowledge,” she said, adding that the media had shown more urgency in addressing the matter than department officials.Jiji slammed those who were targeting her on social media and asked whether such people were adequately informed about the issue. She maintained that she would have raised the same concerns irrespective of when the incident occurred. “Just because people have access to the internet, they cannot write whatever they want. That only shows their ignorance,” she said.Jiji denied having any political affiliation and questioned why the search operation was intensified only after the family and others raised their concerns publicly. “Today is the 11th day. Why was this kind of intensified search not carried out on day one? Is it happening only because we raised our voice?” she asked.
