Chennai: The BJP reiterated on Sunday that it would ensure the safety of Tamil Nadu fishermen who are being needlessly targeted by the Sri Lankan navy. The party also promised to take up the Katchatheevu issue in order to protect the livelihood of the fisher folk.
Ahead of the Sri Lankan External Affairs Minister G L Peiris’ visit to New Delhi, the BJP general secretary P. Muralidhar Rao, in-charge of party affairs in Tamil Nadu, said the saffron party was “very seriously committed to solve the fishermen’s problem.”
“The Government of India respects the rights of fishermen and also supports the livelihood of fishermen. There can be no second opinion on this. The BJP is fully committed to protect the interests of fishermen,” he said.
Speaking to reporters here on Sunday evening he said the issue of the Katchatheevu islet, ceded to Sri Lanka by India in 1974, has to be re-examined. “The question of Indian sovereignty over Katchatheevu has to be re-examined. The BJP will approach it from this perspective,” Mr Rao said and added that the AIADMK’s demand for retrieving Katchatheevu was not unjust.
Playing down the recent affidavit filed before the Madras High Court by the Centre stating that the maritime boundary between India and Sri Lanka was a “settled issue” he said the affidavit was prepared by the previous Congress government and BJP felt the issue was not handled properly.
He expressed the hope that the Centre would look into the affidavit.
Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa and several political parties in the state opposed it. Ms Jayalalithaa had recently urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to direct officials to file a revised affidavit reflecting the concerns of Tamil Nadu in the case. She had also referred to a memorandum she presented to him on June 3 in Delhi on the issue of retrieving India’s sovereignty over Katchatheevu.
