Fishermen issue: DMK wants steps for permanent solution

June 09, 2014 02:32 pm | Updated December 04, 2021 11:37 pm IST - Chennai

DMK chief M. Karunanidhi. File photo

DMK chief M. Karunanidhi. File photo

Expressing concern over the continuing arrests of Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan navy despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi ‘honouring’ Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa by inviting him for his swearing-in ceremony, DMK chief M. Karunanidhi on Monday asked the BJP government to take steps for a permanent solution to the issue.

“The Indian Prime Minister honoured Sri Lankan President by inviting him for his swearing-in ceremony. He (Mr. Rajapaksa) also announced releasing of arrested Indian fishermen as a goodwill gesture. But the arrests have not stopped,” Mr. Karunanidhi said adding India had also released Sri Lankan fishermen from its jails.

He recalled that fishermen associations from Rameswaram, Mandapam and Pamban had decided to resort to indefinite strike protesting the Lankan Navy’s attacks.

“No solution has been found despite long discussions held twice by fishermen representatives of both countries (on fishing rights on Palk Strait). Contrary to expectations that arrest of the fishermen would end after BJP government was formed, it keeps continuing,” he said.

“Therefore, I urge the Modi-led Central government to immediately come forward to find out a permanent solution for this issue,” he said in a statement in Chennai.

He was responding to the arrest of 73 Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy on June 7.

0 / 0
Sign in to unlock member-only benefits!
  • Access 10 free stories every month
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.