Reiterating its stand on Katchatheevu, a policy note of the State Fisheries Department tabled in the Legislative Assembly on Monday stated that only restoration of India’s sovereignty over the islet would lead to a permanent solution to the problems faced by the Tamil Nadu fishermen.
“This government reiterates its consistent stand that a permanent solution to this vexatious problem faced by our fishermen will be possible only by restoring India’s sovereignty over Katchatheevu, thereby restoring their rights to fish in their traditional waters,” the policy note stated and added that the retrieval of the islet and restoration of the fishing rights were “topmost” on its agenda.
The right to life and livelihood and the right to carry on fishing in the traditional waters of Palk Bay were “continuously infringed upon by the Sri Lankan Navy’s recurrent and unabated attack and harassment” of the fishermen, it stated and recalled the several letters sent by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to Prime Minister over the issue.
Since May 2011, a total of 2,481 fishermen and 357 boats have been released from the Sri Lankan custody and repatriated to India.
The State government was committed to continuing the bilateral fishermen-level talks, the policy note stated.
Replying to DMK legislator K.P.P. Samy (Tiruvottiyur), who listed out efforts taken by the erstwhile DMK government to repatriate fishermen arrested by the Sri Lankan authorities, Fisheries Minister D. Jayakumar said the arrests have come down during the AIADMK regime.
“There has not been a single case of our fishermen dying in the sea due to firing by the Sri Lankan authorities, which has not been the case during your government,” Mr. Jayakumar claimed.
