Stating that retrieval of the Kachchatheevu island from Sri Lanka is the only permanent solution to the continuing attacks on India fishermen by the island nation’s navy, CPI state secretary R Viswanathan has urged the Puducherry administration to implead in the case filed by Tamil Nadu in the Supreme Court in this respect.
Speaking to reporters at a press conference on Tuesday, Viswanathan said the fishermen of TN and Puducherry could not earn their livelihood due to the ongoing attacks by the Sri Lankan navy. Union Minster of State for PMO V Narayansamy’s justification that the attack was a sequel to the agitations against Sri Lanka in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry cannot be accepted, he added.
Referring to the prevailing financial crisis, Viswanathan said that at the time of Puducherry’s liberation from French colonialism, the Centre had assured to provide funds required for the UnionTerritory. However, this grant was reduced and the State also “failed” to get and utilise funds from the centre, he charged.
The CPI had urged the Centre to set up a separate service commission for the union territories, as recommended by Union minister V Narayansamy. But the Union Home Secretary had written to the Puducherry administration that a request in this regard should come from it and the government failed to take any action on this, he added.
VCK stages protest
Activists of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) staged a demonstration near Swadeshi Mills condemning the apprehension of Karaikal and Kanyakumari fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy and demanded that the central government take steps to ensure their early release.
The agitators, led by VCK leader Paavaanan, raised slogans against the Central government for not effectively countering the Sri Lankan Navy’s threat to the life of the Indian fishermen.