Jaya dashes off letter to PM Modi on fishermen's arrest

Raking up the issue of fishermen, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has said the situation at sea remains "precarious" due to "offensive acts" of the Sri Lankan Navy despite repeated appeals to the Centre to ensure safety of Indian fishermen.

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Jayalalithaa referred to the arrest of four Indian fishermen who had ventured from Rameswaram, on June 5 and pointed out that this was the third such incident since May 31.

A total of 15 fishermen and 91 boats were now under the custody of the island government, she said while seeking Modi's intervention to secure their release.

The chief minister said she had written to him on many occasions, taking up with him, the "repeated instances of abduction and apprehension of innocent Indian fishermen" belonging to the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu by the Lankan Navy while eking out their livelihood in their traditional fishing waters.

In the letter dated June 6, which was released by the state government on Tuesday, Jayalalithaa said she has been requesting Centre to 'mount' a strong diplomatic initiative to uphold the rights and interests of the Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu.

"In spite of my repeated appeals to ensure the safety and security of our innocent fishermen and to devise a permanent solution to this sensitive livelihood issue, the situation at sea remains precarious with the continued offensive acts of the Sri Lankan Navy," she said.

Jayalalithaa requested Modi to direct the ministry of external affairs "to use diplomatic channels to ensure that our fishermen are allowed to peacefully pursue their livelihood in their traditional fishing waters."

She also sought his "direct intervention to secure the immediate release of the 15 fishermen and 91 fishing boats in Sri Lankan custody."

Jayalalithaa said the "unconstitutional ceding of Katchatheevu by the agreements of 1974 and 1976 is central to this problem."

"The Sri Lankan strategy of not releasing the fishing boats, the main source of livelihood of the poor fishermen, is further aggravating the situation," she said.

While seven fishermen were arrested by the Lankan Navy on May 31, four others were arrested on June 2 following which Jayalalithaa sought Modi's intervention for their release.