CHENNAI: Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Saturday expressed deep pain over the failure of the Centre in taking action when TN fishermen are attacked by Lankan Navy or others in the Palk Straits.In yet another letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Chief Minister said he should take up the issue urgently with Lankan President so that brutal attacks are not repeated.Referring to the hurling of petrol bombs at fishermen from Rameswaram on March 14, the CM said the recurring attacks confirm her view that the Sri Lankan government was adopting “double standards”. The CM recalled the agreement arrived at the Fourth Joint Working Group Meeting held at Colombo on January 13 and 14. During the meeting, it was reiterated that the highest priority was being accorded to the well being, safety and security of fishermen by both the countries and it was agreed that use of force could not be justified in any circumstance.“The assurances given then remain only on paper and are not being honoured by the Lankan government. The recent attack proves that all the discussions aimed at ensuring the safety of our fishermen while fishing is an exercise in futility”, the CM said.Jayalalithaa reiterated that the consistent policy of her government was to restore the fishing rights of the Indian fishermen in the Palk Bay waters, where they had been fishing from time immemorial.“Many a time, TN fishermen who are harassed by Sri Lankan Navy or miscreants, do not even come forward to lodge a complaint, fearing a backlash from the Lankan Navy,” the CM observed.Lankan miscreants watching the Tamil Nadu fishermen being blatantly harassed by the Sri Lankan Naval personnel, get emboldened to attack Tamil Nadu fishermen as was done on March 14, she said. The issue should be considered as a national issue, she told Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
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