Voicing serious concern over increasing attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy, chief minister J. Jayalalithaa said such assaults on Indian citizens should be viewed as "an act of provocation and aggression against India."
Ms. Jayalalithaa conveyed her strong sentiments to foreign secretary Ranjan Mathai, who called on her here ahead of his three-day Colombo visit beginning Sunday.
Indian press reports quoted her as saying:
“Incidents of apprehension and assault of fishermen belonging to Tamil Nadu by the Sri Lankan Navy should be viewed not as an assault on Tamil fishermen, but as an assault on Indian citizens and should be viewed as an act of provocation and aggression against India by Sri Lanka, similar to firing across the borders of India by neighbours such as Pakistan and China”
