DMK president M. Karunanidhi on Monday said unless the Union government took a serious view of the continuing attacks on Tamil fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy and launched firm and fitting action to resolve issues of torture and arrest, the condition would worsen and deteriorate.
“The talks which the Indian government had with the Sri Lankan government in the past and numerous letters and communication have not yielded desired results,” he said in a statement while reacting to the arrest of 20 fishermen from Rameswaram on September 21.
Urging Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to prevail upon the Sri Lankan government not to resort to arrest of Tamil fishermen, he wanted him to arrange a meeting between fishermen from the two countries within a month.
He said taht though the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, had sent a letter to the Prime Minister suggesting a meeting in December, it might be a long period of wait.
Mr. Karunanidhi said the people of Tamil Nadu in general and fishermen in particular were of the opinion that Sri Lankan and its Navy deliberately indulged in such activities. “This view cannot be brushed aside as voices of concern frequently raised on the Indian side have fallen on deaf ears,” he said.
