Expressing anguish that attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Lankan fishermen continued unabated, chief minister J. Jayalalithaa urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take up the issue with the Lankan President and ensure that “no such brutal incidents occur in mid-sea again.”
“I am deeply pained to point out that the issue of attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen is not being treated as a national issue. No serious action is initiated whenever such attacks occur,” Ms Jayalalithaa said in a letter to PM, drawing his attention to the recent attack on four Rameswaram fishermen by Sri Lankan
fishermen with petrol bombs. “The incidents of harassment of TN fishermen continue unabated despite the assurances given by the Lankan government that Tamil Nadu fishermen would not be harassed,” she said.
Ms Jayalalithaa said the incidents of harassment also proves that Lankan government has not taken serious measures to curb the incidents of violence against Tamil Nadu fishermen and confirmed
her charge the “Lankan government is adopting double standards with regard to fishermen’s issue.”