Tamil Nadu CM Stalin slams PM Modi over fishermen issue
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Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not addressing the state's concerns about the fishermen issue. Stalin claimed that during his recent visit to Sri Lanka, Modi didn't seem to discuss retrieving Katchatheevu, a disputed island.
Nor has Modi initiated measures to have the Tamil Nadu fishermen and their fishing boats released, Stalin said in the Assembly.
"This only shows that Tamil Nadu's demand for retrieving Katchatheevu has been ignored. It does not appear that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who went to Sri Lanka, raised the fishermen's release, too," Stalin said, making a statement in the House.
"This is regrettable and disappointing," he added.
The Chief Minister assured that despite the central government's shortcomings, his administration would continue to work towards the welfare of fishermen. To support this commitment, he unveiled several initiatives, including the development of a fishing harbour at Thangachimadam in Rameswaram.
Last week, the Tamil Nadu Assembly had adopted a resolution urging the Centre to retrieve Katchatheevu islet, ceded by India to Sri Lanka by way of agreements in 1974 and 1976 , as a permanent solution to protect the traditional fishing rights of Tamil Nadu fishermen.
The House had also urged the Prime Minister to hold talks with the Sri Lankan government to get all the imprisoned fishermen from the state released along with their boats on a goodwill basis during his official visit to the island republic.
(inputs from PTI)
