Jaya seeks proactive steps from PM: 'atrocities' against fishermen
Chennai, Mar 20 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take 'pro-active steps' to end the recurring brutal attacks and arrests of fishermen from the state by the Sri Lankan Navy.
In yet another letter to the Prime Minister, copies of which were released to the media here, she said, 'I wish to bring to your kind attention two outrageous incidents of attacks on our fishermen on March 19 and 20 in the Palk Bay area of Tamil Nadu.
In the first incident, eight fishermen of Pudukkottai district were beaten up by Sri Lankan Navy personnel with iron pipes in mid sea. In the second, early in today morning one Fibre Reinforced Plastic Boat was attacked by the Sri Lankan Navy with swords. Four fishermen suffered serious cut injuries on their hands and arms. They have been hospitalised, she pointed out.
Urging that the continuing murderous attacks on Tamilnadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy had to be condemned in the strongest terms, she said, "Despite repeated protests by the Tamilnadu government, it is disappointing that no strong deterrent diplomatic initiatives have been taken by the government of India. This has resulted in even more outrageous, unprovoked and lethal attacks by the Sri Lankan Navy on Tamil fishermen. The latest incident involves their use of swords and iron rods to attack our fishermen, an act that is medieval in its barbarism."
The Chief Minister said "India cannot maintain a pusillanimous equanimity in the face of such repeated brazen and uncivilised assaults on innocent fishermen belonging to Tamilnadu, who are also citizens of India."
"Am pained to point out that in the space of the last one month itself, this is the fourth serious incident of attack or unwarranted apprehension by the Sri Lankan Navy which is really worrisome.
Already 19 fishermen of Rameswaram are still languishing in Sri Lankan judicial custody since past one week, despite this issue being brought to your notice on 14 March by me', she said.
She requested the Prime Minister again to take pro-active steps to stop these unabated brutal attacks and arrests of innocent Tamilnadu fishermen.