Chennai: Complaining that “unlawful apprehension” of Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu is continuing unabated, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Thursday sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention in getting 12 fishermen released from Sri Lankan Navy's custody.
In the letter, the CM said the 8 fishermen in two mechanised fishing boats and 4 fishermen in another boat who set out for fishing from Kottaipattinam and Jegathapattinam fishing bases in Pudukottai district, were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy, in the late hours of Wednesday.
“The historical rights of Indian fishermen were, simply signed away as part of the ill-advised Indo-Sri Lankan Agreements of 1974 and 1976, which also unilaterally ceded Katchatheevu island to SL without foresight or concern for the plight of our innocent fishermen,” Palaniswami told Modi.
The legal validity of these agreements had been challenged by our Revered Leader and is a subject matter of a writ petition pending before the SC of India.
Tamil Nadu continues to reiterate that the issue of Katchatheevu and consequently of the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) cannot be treated as settled, he said.
“I once again urge your urgent intervention to secure the release of the 50 fishermen and 143 fishing boats currently in Sri Lankan custody, including the 8 fishermen and 2 fishing boats,” he said.
