The Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) founder, Vijayakanth, has called for a permanent solution to stop firing at Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy.
Attributing the problem to the handing over of Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka, he held the Chief Minister, M. Karunanidhi responsible. “Mr. Karunanidhi’s suggestion of getting back Katchatheevu on lease as an end to the problem is an eyewash,” he told newspersons here on Tuesday.
Stating that all these 26 years, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam were accused of being behind the firing at the fishermen, he said, “Now that it is claimed that the LTTE has been eliminated, how is the firing continuing?” he said.
Mr. Vijayakanth wondered why P. Chidambaram, the Home Minister himself, joined the Congress, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MPs delegation that presented a petition to the Prime Minister. “Is he not aware of what is happening (on the fishermen’s issue)?” he said. The actor-turned-politician also criticised the Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers, M.K. Alagiri, for not joining the MPs delegation.
The DMDK that has called for a fast in New Delhi on September 29 and has sought an appointment with the Prime Minister and the Union Minister for External Affairs S.M. Krishna, he said.
On the issue of permission given to Kerala for carrying out survey for a new dam in lieu of the Periyar dam, he said the Chief Minister and the Union Minister for Forests and Environment, Jairam Ramesh, differed on the issue.
