Sayeed appeals to PM to take steps for stranded passengers

New Delhi, June 9: Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker P M Sayeed on Friday appealed to PM Vajpayee to direct the authorities concerned to take immediate steps to ensure that 3,000 passengers from Lakshadweep stranded in Kochi be provided transport to reach their home in the islands.

Sayeed, who has been representing Lakshadweep for ten terms since it was made a Parliamentary constituency, said it was pathetic to see the passengers stranded in Kochi without any facilities, specially the aged men, women and children.

The Deputy Speaker who had a 45-minute meeting with Vajpayee said the plight of the passengers was "heart-rending" as many of them were also in dire financial straits.

He said the authorities sought to put the blame on the passengers saying that many of them had boarded the ship without tickets and had offloaded many of them on this pretext, leaving them stranded.