Pushpavanam, Tamil Nadu:
The recent killing of two Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu allegedly by the Sri Lankan Navy is turning into an election issue in the state.
One of the victims, Jayakumar, was an AIADMK worker and the party's chief Jayalalithaa visited his widow at a village in Nagapattinam district.
On Sunday, the Centre under pressure from it's ally, the State's Chief Minister had called up Sri Lanka.
Today, Jayalalithaa who'll be contesting for the chief minister's post in a few months' time stepped up political pressure.
"The Central government should issue a stern warning to Sri Lanka that they will not dare to attack Indian fishermen. But that's not happening, because the PM is ineffectual. The PM should step down if he does not know what to do," said Jayalalithaa.
The fisherman, whose family Jayalalitha visited, was reportedly strung by the neck and dragged behind a boat in the sea. Sri Lanka has denied its Navy is responsible.
"My children have lost their father. This should not happen to any other child. I beg the government," said J Murugeswari, Jayakumar's wife.
Jayalalithaa promised protection to Tamil Nadu fishermen if she was voted to power in the upcoming assembly polls.
Fishermen in Tamil Nadu could change political fortunes in around 75 assembly constituencies. Analysts say Jayalalithaa is capitalising on this to woo the community.
While her visit here is to consolidate the AIADMK vote bank in coastal Tamil Nadu, she has been increasing her public appearances by the week.
Twenty four hours earlier she was seen wrapping up an alliance with the Left.
Certainly, this is another challenge for the ruling DMK - Congress in Tamil Nadu ahead of assembly polls besides the 2G spectrum scam and the price rise.