DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi on Sunday urged the Centre to take appropriate action and provide protection to Indian fishermen.
Karunanidhi’s call came in response to a warning statement made by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa that fishermen trespassing into Lankan territorial waters would be jailed for 20 years.
“Rajapaksa has accused Tamil fishermen of infiltrating into Sri Lankan waters and using trawl nets that catch even young fish. Though he has not named India or Tamil Nadu directly he has directed his statement at neighbours from the northwest,” said Karunanidhi.
“He has made it clear that if Indian fishermen are caught fishing in Lankan waters they will be jailed for 20 years. I call on the Centre to take appropriate action in response to this statement and provide protection to the fishermen,” the octogenarian leader added.
In the run-up to DMK’s jail bharo, Karunanidhi is slated to address a public meeting to explain the circumstances for the protests that the DMK was planning for July 4, to protest the persistent arrest and jailing of DMK leaders and functionaries. The veteran leader would address a public meeting at Tambaram, near Chennai on July 1, a party release said.
His son and party treasurer, M K Stalin, will address similar meetings in Kumbakonam and Mayiladuthurai on July 1 and 2 respectively. Party general secretary K Anbazhagan would address an explanatory meeting in Karur on June 29, while K Kanimozhi, A Raja, Durai Murugan and T R Baalu would address meetings on June 28, at Chidambaram, North Chennai, Villupuram and Salem respectively, the release said.