Chennai: The recent incident of two Indian fishermen allegedly attacked by Sri Lankan Navy represents a “major escalation” in the manner in which the “extremely sensitive” issue was being handled, the AIADMK told Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday while asking him to convey New Delhi’s “strong protest” to Colombo.
In a memorandum submitted to Mr Modi, the AIADMK MPs led by Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai demanded that the Union Government immediately retrieve Katchatheevu Islands, which was ceded to Sri Lanka by the India in 1974.
“Such an incident of firing has not occurred in the past several years and represents a major escalation in the manner in which the Sri Lankan Navy is dealing with an extremely sensitive livelihood issue of Indian fishermen,” the MPs said in their memorandum.
Two fishermen hailing from Karaikkal region were injured when Sri Lankan naval personnel fire on them on Thursday when they were fishing off Kodiakkari coast.
The MPs expressed shock over the timing of the attack on Indian fishermen as it came just a couple of days after fishermen of both countries met and agreed on “no violence and no loss of life” while handling the issue.
“Clearly, the response from the Indian side to this incident has to be immediate and effective. On behalf of our leader, the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Puratchi Thalaivi J. Jayalalithaa, we strongly urge you to direct the Ministry of External Affairs to summon the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India and convey our strong protest against this shocking incident,” the memorandum said.
The AIADMK MPs said the fisherfolk in the state were in a “state of shock” over the incident and asked the Prime Minister to immediately abrogate the 1974 Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement that ceded the Katchatheevu Islands to Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, AIADMK MPs protested against the firing on fishermen in the Lok Sabha, while they raised slogans against Centre's indecision on formation of Cauvery Management Board. While several opposition members were in the Well of the House demanding an adjournment motion on the demonetisation issue, the AIADMK members were also there to protest the latest incident of alleged firing on Tamil fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy.
