NE NEWS SERVICE
CHENNAI, MARCH 21
The Tamil Nadu unit of the BJP and the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) on Sunday flagged the arrest of 21 more fishermen by Sri Lanka and urged the Centre to swiftly secure the release of fishers and their boats.
On behalf of @BJP4TamilNadu, we request the kind intervention of our Hon EAM Thiru @DrSJaishankar avl in the immediate repatriation of the 21 Fishermen from Rameswaram detained by the Sri Lankan Navy. pic.twitter.com/YqON1c4S58
— K.Annamalai (மோடியின் குடும்பம்) (@annamalai_k) March 17, 2024
Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai and PMK top leader Anbumani Ramadoss said 21 fishermen have been arrested by the island nation. Also, their two boats have been seized.
தமிழக மீனவர்கள் மேலும் 21 பேர் கைது: இனியும் தாமதிக்காமல் மீனவர் சிக்கலுக்கு நிரந்தரத் தீர்வு காண நடவடிக்கை வேண்டும்!
வங்கக்கடலில் கச்சத்தீவுக்கு அருகே மீன்பிடித்துக் கொண்டிருந்த இராமேஸ்வரம் மீனவர்கள் 21 பேரை சிங்களக் கடற்படையினர் கைது செய்துள்ளனர். அவர்கள் மீன் பிடிக்கச்…
— Dr ANBUMANI RAMADOSS (@draramadoss) March 17, 2024
The fishermen were arrested on the night of Saturday by Lankan authorities.
Writing to External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, Annamalai said: “We bring to your kind attention the detention of 21 fishermen from Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu by the Sri Lankan Navy and 2 fishing boats belonging to these fishermen were also apprehended. We request the intervention of our External Affairs Ministry to facilitate the early repatriation of the detainees and the release of their fishing boats.” Annamalai posted a copy of his letter to the minister on X.
In a post on X, Anbumani, also a Rajya Sabha member, said during the past week, as many as 58 fishermen from Tamil Nadu and Karaikal (Puducherry) have been arrested by Sri Lanka. “During the past two months, more than 80 fishermen have been arrested.”
The PMK leader said the Central government must not allow the ‘endless arrests and attacks’ of Tamil Nadu fishermen by Sri Lanka. The union government should take action to secure the release of all 58 fishermen and all their boats.
