Chennai: DMK working president M.K. Stalin on Wednesday condemned the smashing of boats belonging to Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy and arrest of 49 fishermen belonging to Pudukottai and Rameswaram. Stalin said two of the boats had sunk when the island navy’s ship crashed into them and the other boats had been seized.
Describing the action of the Lankan navy as ‘brutal’, he said the fishermen are going into the sea only for their livelihood. It is not proper for a ‘friendly country’ to ram into the boats of Tamil Nadu fishermen. When a batch of Indian fishermen were released, another batch of fishermen are being taken away. Several rounds of talks had been held between the fishermen representatives of both the countries at several levels, but the island government had not stood by any of its promises during the negotiations, he alleged.
Pointing out that the incident had forced the fishermen of Pudukottai to resort to agitations, Stalin said 64 fishermen including the 49 fishermen arrested on Tuesday should be released along with 125 boats.
The centre should exert diplomatic pressure for the release of fishermen and their boats. The Centre should also speak to the Lankan Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister to stop the arrest of fishermen and seizure of their boats, Stalin added.
