In the wake of continual arrests of fishermen from the State by the Sri Lankan Navy, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday alleging that the Centre’s “inadequate response” to such incidents “emboldened” the Lankan Navy.

In her letter to Modi, Jayalalithaa recalled her repeated requests seeking strong diplomatic action to ensure that such incidents do not occur and said the arrests of fishermen were causing a deep sense of frustration among the fishermen community in Tamil Nadu.

Hoping for a decisive shift in the stance of the Centre in handling this issue, Jayalalithaa said, “I request you to put in place a strong and robust diplomatic response registering India’s disapproval in the strongest possible terms of the belligerent actions of the Sri Lankan Navy.”

The Chief Minister further requested the Prime Minister to direct the officials in the Ministry of External Affairs to take “concrete action” through diplomatic channels to secure the immediate release of all 96 fishermen and 82 fishing boats.

Five fishermen from Rameswaram and 23 fishermen from Pambanwere apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy on March 13 and March 12 respectively in recent incidents.

(The Hindu)