Rebuking DMK leader M K Stalin for demanding assembly session to discuss the issue of five Indian fishermen facing death row in Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam on Monday listed out his government’s initiatives in this regard, saying the former’s efforts to “fish in troubled waters” will not fructify.
“While this government is expediting all steps to save the five fishermen, I wish to inform that his (Stalin’s) intentions of trying to fish in troubled waters will not fructify,” the Chief Minister said in a statement here.
Joining issue with Mr. Stalin who demanded that the assembly be convened to pass a resolution seeking the protection of the fishermen, arrested in 2011 and sentenced last month in a drug case, besides to discuss other issues like milk price hike, he listed the government’s financial support to their families besides bearing the litigation cost.
The government has on Nov. 8 announced allocation of Rs 20 lakh to hire best advocates to defend their case in the appeal in Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court against Colombo High Court order.
Besides, the last assembly session ended in August when the supplementary estimates were approved and grants for various departments taken up, he said adding in 2009 when DMK was in power, the house concluded its session for taking up the grants on July 21 and next was convened only in January 2010.
“Therefore, we know when to convene the Assembly. There is no need to get advice from Stalin about this,” he said.
He also chided DMK alleging that their participation in Assembly debates in the last three years involved making `false charges, creating confusion’ when Ministers replied and staging walkout or getting evicted.
“Stalin should explain if he wants to re-enact such drama,” Mr. Panneeselvam said.
