Terming the apprehension of Indian fishermen by Lankan Navy a long “festering” issue, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalitha on Wednesday implored the Centre to take steps for securing the release of 43 fishermen who are under Sri Lankan custody.
“The instances of apprehension of our fishermen continue unabated and are creating a sense of fear, anxiety and unrest among the fishermen community in Tamil Nadu.
I request the government of India to take up this matter with the government of Sri Lanka to ensure the immediate release of the impounded fishing boats and gear before they are rendered useless,” she said in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Jayalalitha pointed out that the government of India should also not treat the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) with Sri Lanka as a settled question as the constitutionality of the 1974 and 1976 agreements have been challenged on extremely valid and legal grounds by her and by the government of Tamil Nadu in the Supreme Court.
Stating that the Modi government has taken prompt action from time to time to secure the release of 225 fishermen from Sri Lankan custody, Jayalalitha said, “it is disheartening to note that their 46 fishing boats continue to stay impounded. This deliberate strategy of the Sri Lankan government to destroy the primary means of livelihood of our fishermen is condemnable”.
Jayalalitha sought Modi’s immediate intervention to secure the release of the 43 Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu and their 55 fishing boats including the 46 mechanised fishing boats that are already under Sri Lankan custody.