Chennai: As Sri Lankan Navy allegedly took 10 Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu into their custody, Chief Minister O Panneerselvam on Sunday asked the Union Government to secure their release immediately.
In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister also asked him to sanction Rs 1,650 crore for deep sea fishing and augmentation of infrastructure for fishermen to improve the socio economic status of our fishermen in the Palk Bay.
Including the 10 fishermen who set out from Jegathapattinam fishing base of Pudukottai District and were arrested on Sunday morning, 20 Indian fishermen are currently in the custody of the Sri Lankan Government.
“I also request you to kindly direct the Ministry of External Affairs to expedite steps to secure the release of 20 fishermen and 118 fishing boats including the 10 fishermen and their two mechanised fishing boats apprehended on January 8 without any delay,” Mr OPS said in the letter.
Chief Minister O Panneerselvam said the latest arrest by the Sri Lankan Navy just after 51 fishermen were released shows its “harsh and unjust tactic of apprehending Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu” who peacefully pursue their avocation in the traditional fishing waters of the Palk Bay
“As you are aware, in 2016 itself 290 Tamil Nadu fishermen along with their 53 fishing boats were apprehended in 39 incidents. Subsequently all 290 fishermen were released due to the unstinted efforts of our revered leader the late Hon’ble Chief Minister Puratchi Thalaivi Amma,” he said.
