Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) leader G.K. Vasan has said the Centre should ensure peaceful fishing in the Palk Bay when fishermen from Rameswaram and other coastal areas begin the new fishing season on June 15 after ending the 61-day fish-banning period.
Stating that there was no end to the fishermen problem and they continued to face harassment in the hands of the Sri Lankan navy when they ventured into the Palk Bay for fishing, he said the Centre should prevail upon the Lankan government and ensure that the fishermen were not harassed and arrested at least in the new season.
Mr. Vasan who was on a private visit to Rameswaram on Sunday told reporters that it was a matter of great concern that about 160 mechanised boats, confiscated by the Lankan navy, were detained in Lankan ports for several months and no effort was being made to secure them back.
Some of the boats have suffered extensive damage, he said, adding before other boats suffered damage and became useless, the Centre should take up the issue with the island nation and salvage the boats.
All opposition parties in Tamil Nadu were united in support of the fishermen, he said and wanted the State government to firmly take up the issue with the Centre.
Blaming the police and the government for the police firing against the anti-Sterlite protesters in Thoothukudi and the loss of 13 lives, he said the State Assembly convened to meet on May 29 should adopt unanimous resolution for the closure of the Sterlite Copper plant. The demand for the closure of Sterlite should not be viewed as a political issue but an issue concerning the lives and well-being of the local people, he said.
On petrol and diesel prices touching unprecedented hikes, Mr. Vasan said the Centre should take immediate steps to reduce the prices of petrol and diesel and bring petroleum products under the GST regime.
State governments should withdraw the duties on petrol and diesel and reduce the burden of common people, he said.
