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Krishna observation slammed by fishermen
Thursday’s statement by Union Minister for External Affairs SM Krishna in Rajya Sabha that the attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy has “significantly come down since October 2008” has shocked the fishing community in southern Tamil Nadu.
Even as the Minister was preparing for his performance in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, eight fishermen from Vedaranyam in Nagapattinam who were fishing in the Bay of Bengal were being thrashed by the Sri Lankan navy.
Vincent James, a fishermen’s group leader, told The Pioneer that Wednesday’s was the second attack on Vedaranyam fishermen in the last three weeks. “The Minister is telling a lie. One has lost count of the number of attacks on the fishermen by the Lankan Navy. This has become an almost daily routine,” said James.
The eight fishermen who were fishing in two boats 15 nautical miles off the Indian shore were surrounded by Sri Lankan Navy personnel who jumped into the boats and beat them up with iron rods. Not a single day passes of in the State without news of fishermen being attacked by the island nation’s navy.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa wrote two letters to the Prime Minister in August drawing his attention to the frequent attacks on the fishermen from the State by the Lankan Navy. “But it seems no action has been taken by the Union Government. Last week we saw more than 50 fishermen from the district of Nagapattinam being warned by the Lankan navy for getting down at Katchatheevu Island,” said Vinayakam, another fishing leader.
But Krishna told the Rajya Sabha that “India had consistently taken up issues related to incidents of firing or apprehensions of our fisherman with Sri Lanka to ensure that the Lankan navy acted with restraint and our fishermen were treated in a humane manner”.
According to the Minister, “The incidents of attack and apprehending of fishermen by Sri Lankan authorities have significantly come down after the October 2008 understanding on practical measures.”
The Lankan navy justifies their action by claiming that the Tamil Nadu fishermen trespass into their side of the border for fishing. Though there has been a long time demand for setting up a full-fledged naval station of the Indian Navy at Mandapam in Ramanathapuram district till date no action has been taken by the Union Government. “A naval station at Mandapam will help boost the morale and confidence of our fishermen,” Jaya Palayan, president, Fishermen Welfare Federation, said.
Thursday’s statement by Union Minister for External Affairs SM Krishna in Rajya Sabha that the attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy has “significantly come down since October 2008” has shocked the fishing community in southern Tamil Nadu.
Even as the Minister was preparing for his performance in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, eight fishermen from Vedaranyam in Nagapattinam who were fishing in the Bay of Bengal were being thrashed by the Sri Lankan navy.
Vincent James, a fishermen’s group leader, told The Pioneer that Wednesday’s was the second attack on Vedaranyam fishermen in the last three weeks. “The Minister is telling a lie. One has lost count of the number of attacks on the fishermen by the Lankan Navy. This has become an almost daily routine,” said James.
The eight fishermen who were fishing in two boats 15 nautical miles off the Indian shore were surrounded by Sri Lankan Navy personnel who jumped into the boats and beat them up with iron rods. Not a single day passes of in the State without news of fishermen being attacked by the island nation’s navy.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa wrote two letters to the Prime Minister in August drawing his attention to the frequent attacks on the fishermen from the State by the Lankan Navy. “But it seems no action has been taken by the Union Government. Last week we saw more than 50 fishermen from the district of Nagapattinam being warned by the Lankan navy for getting down at Katchatheevu Island,” said Vinayakam, another fishing leader.
But Krishna told the Rajya Sabha that “India had consistently taken up issues related to incidents of firing or apprehensions of our fisherman with Sri Lanka to ensure that the Lankan navy acted with restraint and our fishermen were treated in a humane manner”.
According to the Minister, “The incidents of attack and apprehending of fishermen by Sri Lankan authorities have significantly come down after the October 2008 understanding on practical measures.”
The Lankan navy justifies their action by claiming that the Tamil Nadu fishermen trespass into their side of the border for fishing. Though there has been a long time demand for setting up a full-fledged naval station of the Indian Navy at Mandapam in Ramanathapuram district till date no action has been taken by the Union Government. “A naval station at Mandapam will help boost the morale and confidence of our fishermen,” Jaya Palayan, president, Fishermen Welfare Federation, said.
