Following yet another attack on 8 Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and DMK president M Karunanidhi have both released statements condemning the attack and calling on the Indian government to do more to halt the assaults.
Writing in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa stated,
Writing in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa stated,
"I am distressed to once again have to point out that the incidents of harassment of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy simply continue unabated"
"The Sri Lankan Navy, emboldened by the soft handling of the issue by the Government of India, is attacking/harassing the fishermen of Tamil Nadu with impunity. The statements at diplomatic level meetings of the two countries stating that "the use of force on fishermen cannot be justified by any means" remain only on paper and are honoured more in the breach by the Sri Lankan Navy, who seem to be making a mockery of the entire diplomatic process"
"This incident is yet another instance of high handedness of Sri Lankan Naval personnel who keep on targeting the poor and innocent fishermen of Tamil Nadu while they try to eke out their livelihood through fishing".The attack also provoked a reaction from DMK leader Karunanidhi who commented,
“It is a fact that every time Tamil (fishermen) is attacked, state government takes it up with the Centre and the Prime Minister, who in turn takes it up with the Sri Lankan High Commissioner or that government to satisfy us. Sri Lanka assures attacks will not recur but they do happen within a day or two of that assurance."
"Such incidents are a never ending story."
