CHENNAI: DMK leader M Karunanidhi on Sunday charged Sri Lanka with using its geographical location to deceive other nations and asked the Union government to take steps to safeguard the livelihood of the fishermen of Tamil Nadu.
Karunanidhi cited Lanka rejecting the Indian government’s request to allow TN fishermen to fish in Lankan waters for 65 days and not to arrest them when they crossed the international maritime boundary, referring to the arrest of 19 fishermen from Nagapattinam. It may be recalled that the Lankan Fisheries Minister, Mahinda Amaraweera, had refused to agree to the Indian government’s proposal.
The Lankan government accuses the Indian fishermen of using illegal methods for fishing. To expose Lanka’s insincerity, Karunanidhi pointed to the Lanka government initially supporting a resolution at the UNHRC and the Sri Lankan President opposing it the next day in an interview.