Pledging his support for the fishermen’s stir in the wake of the gunning down of K. Britjo (21), allegedly by the Sri Lankan Navy while he was fishing on the high seas, DMK working president M.K. Stalin accused the Centre of being indifferent to the grievances of Tamil Nadu fishermen.
Addressing the agitators on Saturday at the protest venue in Thangachimadam after offering his condolences to the bereaved, the DMK leader hit out at the Centre’s ‘silence’ on the shooting incident.
“The fishermen have been protesting since Tuesday, but the Centre has neither condemned the incident nor registered its protest with the Sri Lankan government. The State government has also failed to apply pressure on the Centre,” he charged.
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Alluding to the agitators’ demand for External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to meet them at the protest venue and assure them of finding a lasting solution to ensure peaceful fishing in Palk Bay, Mr. Stalin said that if Ms. Swaraj could not make it to the venue, the Centre could have deputed one of her colleagues or an official from the External Affairs Ministry, but it has instead maintained a stoic silence.
He recalled that when two fishermen from Kerala were shot dead by Italian Marines in 2012, the Centre swung into action and detained the Marines along with their ship. The Kerala government acted fast as well, announcing ₹1 crore each as compensation to the victims’ kin, besides initiating legal action.
“Soon after the shooting incident, DMK Rajya Sabha member Tiruchi Siva, on behalf of the party, took up the issue with the External Affairs Ministry and party MP Kanimozhi raised the issue in the Rajya Sabha, calling for a separate debate,” Mr. Stalin pointed out.
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“The DMK will support the protest till the just demands of the fisherfolk are acceded to,” he said.
Katchatheevu issue
On the demand for retrieving the Katchatheevu islet, the DMK leader said a lasting solution to the issue could be found only if the islet was retrieved.
Later in the day, he paid homage to Britjo, whose body is kept at the mortuary of the government hospital.