TN parties urge Centre to act on Lanka firing

Hours after two Indian fishermen were injured when Sri Lankan naval personnel allegedly opened fire at them, parties, including MDMK and PMK, have condemned it, claiming that it happened in Indian waters and urged the Centre to take action to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

MDMK general secretary Vaiko alleged that the fishermen were attacked by Lankan Navy by entering the Indian maritime boundary adding Centre should condemn it strongly. 

Referring to Indo-Lankan fishermen level talks in Delhi ending in a stalemate earlier this month and initiatives like a joint working group on fisheries between the two countries to address the issue, he said: “The Union government seeking a solution to the problems of Tamil Nadu fishermen through diplomatic efforts will never succeed.” 

He demanded “appropriate response if Sri Lankan Navy attacks our fishermen,” and Indian Naval security to Tamil Nadu and Puducherry fishermen. PMK leader and Dharmapuri Lok Sabha MP Anbumani Ramadoss said, the Lankan Navy “fired at Tamil Nadu fishermen engaged in fishing near Kodiyakarai in the Indian waters.”

He said the firing incident was “incomprehensible,” as there was neither any provocation nor did Indian fishermen transgress into Lanka’s waters. On the recent Indo-Lanka parleys, he said,”

it appears that the attack has been done by Lankan Navy only to sabotage the efforts by two countries to resolve fishermen problem.”