File photo of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today filed a defamation case against the BJP's Subramanian Swamy in a court in Chennai for alleging that the boats of Indian fishermen apprehended by Sri Lanka belong to Sasikala, a close aide of the AIADMK chief.
Ms Jayalalithaa had on September 2 urged PM Modi to take up the issue of the arrest of Indian fishermen with Sri Lanka's highest authorities.
"The alarmingly increasing frequency of apprehension of our fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy is a matter of utmost concern for my government. An immediate intervention at the highest level is sought to resolve this long-standing issue," Ms Jayalalithaa had written in a letter to the PM.
She had said the Sri Lankan Navy arrested 15 fishermen on September 1 and 2 while they were fishing in traditional waters. Referring to the non-release of apprehended fishing boats belonging to Indian fishermen, Jayalalithaa said the "inhumane" and "cruel strategy" was causing great loss to the livelihood of the fishermen and their families.
However, after Ms Jayalalithaa's letter to the PM, Mr Swamy too wrote to Mr Modi and alleged that the boats in question belong to the chief minister and senior DMK leader TR Baalu.
Ms Jayalalithaa's petition contends that Mr Swamy's remarks were defamatory.