Chennai: Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Thursday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take strong, decisive action and secure the release of all 73 fishermen including 16 fishermen arrested on Wednesday and 101 boats in Lankan custody. In her second letter to Modi over the fishermen issue this week, she referred to Wednesday’s arrest of 16 fishermen and their three boats by Sri Lanka and sought his personal intervention to secure their release.
“I request your personal intervention to secure the immediate release of the 73 fishermen and 101 fishing boats, including the 16 fishermen and their three fishing boats apprehended yesterday from Sri Lankan custody," she said. Seeking "strong and decisive action," by the Centre, Chief Minister said, “the present situation cannot be allowed to fester in this manner.” Expressing concern over the prolonged disuse of the fishing craft and gear lying with Sri Lanka, she said, such a condition will make them unusable and unseaworthy compounding the financial losses of the poor fishermen. She also demanded that the fishing boats to be given back to fishermen in a refurbished condition. She reiterated her request for an early, permanent and peaceful solution to the livelihood issue affecting lakhs of fishermen of TN.
