The latest killing of a fisherman, allegedly by the Sri Lankan Navy, on Saturday evoked strong condemnation from Opposition political parties which demanded effective measures from the Tamil Nadu government and the Centre to put an end to such incidents.
In a statement here, AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa said the victim was an AIADMK member and accused the Chief Minister of doing nothing to prevent such killings. He was “enacting a farcical drama” of sending telegrams and writing letters to the Prime Minister, she said.
“Such killings have become a continuing affair because the Indian government has failed to adequately warn the Sri Lankan government. India should send a strong warning, saying the consequences will be severe if the attacks are not stopped,” she said.
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MDMK general secretary Vaiko said unless effective steps were taken to warn the Sri Lankan government, the fishermen and people of Tamil Nadu would be forced to come to the conclusion that the Indian Navy and the Centre had deliberately failed in their duty to protect our fishermen.
Mr. Vaiko, who met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday, said if the attacks continued, the Congress-led UPA government would be held responsible for the killing of fishermen.
Stating that the people of Tamil Nadu could no longer tolerate such attacks and their patience was wearing thin, PMK leader S. Ramadoss said the only way out was to snap diplomatic relations with Sri Lanka and recall the Indian High Commissioner.
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CPI(M) State secretary G. Ramakrishnan said the Centre should take constructive measures to ensure the fishing rights of Tamil fishermen, besides preventing attacks on them by the Sri Lankan Navy.
Manithaneya Makkal Katchi co-ordinator M.H. Jawahirullah said if the Centre was really interested in protecting the interests of Tamil fishermen, it should bring Katchatheevu under its control.