Attacks on fishermen: Sushma blames Centre's ‘casual attitude'

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj, on Friday blamed the Centre's “casual attitude” for the continuing attacks on Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy.

Referring to the two recent killings of fishermen from Tamil Nadu in the waters between India and Sri Lanka, Ms. Swaraj told mediapersons at the BJP State headquarters here that these were avoidable incidents.

“Had the Government of India taken a stern view of earlier incidents, these two incidents could have been avoided. The casual attitude of the government is responsible for the killing of fishermen,” she said. Ms. Swaraj said she had been assigned the task of overseeing the party's election affairs in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry, which would soon witness the Assembly elections.

“This time, it won't be a token fight in Tamil Nadu. We will register an effective presence in the Assembly,” she said.

She took exception to a DMK general council resolution that had condemned BJP president Nitin Gadkari's remarks on the ruling party in Tamil Nadu.