Seeking the personal intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the release of 73 fishermen in Sri Lankan jails and 101 fishing boats, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa asked the Centre to act decisively to stop the arrest of Tamil Nadu fishermen.
In her letter to the Prime Minister, Ms. Jayalalithaa reiterated her earlier exhortations for an early, permanent and peaceful solution to the livelihood issue affecting lakhs of fishermen from Tamil Nadu living along the coast bordering the Palk Bay.
16 fishermen arrested
Her latest letter follows the arrest of 16 fishermen in three mechanised boats from Rameswaram on July 7.
She reiterated that only the retrieval of Katchatheevu would restore Tamil Nadu fishermen the right to earn their livelihood peacefully by fishing in their traditional waters.
What was distressing was that the Sri Lankan authorities were unrelenting in not releasing the fishing boats and gear. The prolonged disuse and lack of maintenance would make them unusable adding to the losses of the poor fishermen.
The Centre should secure the release of the fishing boats in a refurbished condition, she demanded.
Ms. Jayalalithaa also sought Mr. Modi’s urgent directions to the Ministry of External Affairs to initiate measures to find a permanent solution.
