Expressing concern over increasing instances of arrest of Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan navy, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today said there has been no change in the "hostile environment" towards the fishermen despite a regime change in the island republic and rued that New Delhi had not taken "any concrete action."
Jayalalithaa said she had "hoped" that after the change of regime in Sri Lanka, with Maithiripala Sirisena heading the government, there would be a positive change in the "hostile environment" created for fishermen from coastal districts of her state while fishing in their traditional fishing waters.
She had hoped that "the aggressive actions of the Sri Lankan Navy would cease," she told Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a letter to draw his attention to the latest instance of arrest of 24 Indian fishermen yesterday.
"Unfortunately, such incidents of apprehension of Tamil Nadu fishermen show no signs of abating and continue with painful regularity. Such incidents inflict huge misery and hardship on the fishermen community," she said.
New Delhi had not taken any concrete action on this matter, she added.
"Despite my taking up the issue repeatedly with you, there has been no concrete action and our fishermen are suffering prolonged incarceration in Sri Lankan jails," she said.
This is an unacceptable situation which has to be remedied through a set of comprehensive measures including securing the urgent release of the fishermen, she said.
Harassment and frequent arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen were "abrogation of their traditional fishing rights in their traditional fishing areas," she said.
"This is a livelihood issue of thousands of our fisher folk and is taking on a huge social and political dimension. India cannot continue to be seen as a mute spectator as the rights of Indian fishermen are repeatedly infringed upon. The issue thus requires urgent intervention not merely at a diplomatic level, but also at the highest political level," she said.
This issue needs to be placed at the top of the agenda in any interaction with Sri Lanka, she said and called for "concerted action" from the Centre to secure the immediate release of a total of 78 fishermen and 38 fishing boats presently in Lankan custody.
"We expect that concrete action on the long term solution to this issue will also be initiated forthwith," she said.
The CM reiterated that the agreements of 1974 and 1976, whereby India had ceded the iselt Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka, should be nullified as a long-term solution to the issue.
She also reminded Modi of her demand for a Rs 1,520 crore package for the fishing sector in her state.
