Chennai : Voicing serious concern over continued attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen allegedly by Sri Lankan navy, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today asked the Centre to take up urgently the issue with the island government to ensure that no such "brutal incidents occur in mid-sea again."
"I am also deeply pained to point out that the issue of attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen is not being treated as a national issue. No serious action is initiated whenever such attacks occur," she said in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh drawing his attention to the recent incident when a boat carrying four fishermen of Rameswaram were attacked by "some Sri Lankan miscreants" who hurled petrol bombs.
She alleged that the continued occurrence of incidents of harassment proves that the Sri Lankan government has not taken serious measures to curb the incidents of violence against Tamil Nadu fishermen.
"These recurring attacks confirm my earlier statement that the Sri Lankan government is adopting double standards with regard to fishermen's issues," she said.
Noting that the joint working group meeting held at Colombo in January this year agreed that use of force could not be justified under any circumstances, she alleged that assurances given by the Lankan government "only remain on paper."
The latest attack "proves that all discussions aimed at ensuring the safety of our fishermen while fishing is an exercise in futility," she said.
Ms Jayalalithaa said she wished to reiterate that the consistent policy of her government was to "restore the fishing rights of the Indian fishermen in their traditional fishing areas in the Palk Bay waters where they have been traditionally fishing from time immemorial."
She urged the PM to take up the issue with the Sri Lankan Government and its President urgently, and ensure that no such "brutal incidents occur in mid-sea again".
"I am also deeply pained to point out that the issue of attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen is not being treated as a national issue. No serious action is initiated whenever such attacks occur," she said in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh drawing his attention to the recent incident when a boat carrying four fishermen of Rameswaram were attacked by "some Sri Lankan miscreants" who hurled petrol bombs.
"These recurring attacks confirm my earlier statement that the Sri Lankan government is adopting double standards with regard to fishermen's issues," she said.
Advertisement
The latest attack "proves that all discussions aimed at ensuring the safety of our fishermen while fishing is an exercise in futility," she said.
Advertisement
She urged the PM to take up the issue with the Sri Lankan Government and its President urgently, and ensure that no such "brutal incidents occur in mid-sea again".
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
"Jayalalithaa Backed Ram Mandir, Scrapping Of Article 370": Tamil Nadu BJP Chief PM Modi's "Remember Jayalalithaa" Jibe At DMK In BJP's Solo Tamil Nadu Fight Dead Leaders "Rise" In Tamil Nadu, As Deepfake Tools Warp Poll Campaign "Trusted Mamata Banerjee But...": Father Of Murdered Doctor To NDTV What Murdered Doctor's Father Said About A Torn Page From Her Diary Flower Seller Forced To Buy iPhone For Son On Hunger Strike, Internet Reacts Elite Jewish High School Graduates Shun Columbia Amid Protest Turmoil Chhattisgarh Father Beats Girl, 8, To Death. She Was Fighting Sister For Toy In Lateral Entry Row, Rahul Gandhi Renews "Attack On Dalits..." Criticism Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.