CHENNAI: Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Saturday hit out at the Sri Lankan Navy for the continued attacks against Tamil Nadu fishermen and said, “the assault on Tamil fishermen should be viewed as an act of provocation and aggression against India by Sri Lanka, similar to firing across the borders of India by neighbours such as Pakistan and China. The attack on Tamil fishermen should be viewed as a national issue and not as an isolated problem of Tamil Nadu alone.” The Chief Minister made these remarks when Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai called on her on his way to Sri Lanka. The CM’s tough stance on the issue assumes significance as so far, the Centre’s action in safeguarding TN fishermen has been a mere diplomatic ritual between the two countries and despite many assurances, attacks continue. Recalling 16 incidents of detention and harassment of Tamil fishermen that have occurred off the coasts of Ramanathapuram and Nagapattinam after the present government took over, the Chief Minister said the Sri Lankan miscreants/fishermen had, in the past one month, taken away fishing equipment and fish from Tamil fishermen. Jayalalithaa asked Mathai to take this matter up with the Lankan government during his visit to Colombo.
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