Annamalai Criticises CM Stalin's Letter To PM Modi Ahead Of Sri Lankan President's Visit

Ahead of Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe's two-day visit to India, Chief Minister MK Stalin wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking him to discuss the issues of retrieval of Katchatheevu island, protection of the traditional fishing rights of Indian fishermen and protection of the social, political, cultural and economic rights of the Tamils in Sri Lanka.

Recalling the opposition to the ceding of Katchatheevu by his father and former chief minister M Karunanidhi, he wrote that retrieval of the island is important to provide relief to fishermen from Tamil Nadu.

"I urge the Union Government to initiate diplomatic efforts to revisit the Agreement transferring Katchatheevu island and make all efforts to retrieve Katchatheevu as it will only re-establish the historical fishing rights and provide permanent relief to our fishermen. Until this is accomplished, the Union Government may take steps to restore at least the traditional fishing rights of our fishermen."

Regarding the incidents of fishermen from the state being arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy and their boats being seized, he wrote," In 2023 alone, the Sri Lankan Navy arrested 74 fishermen. Of the 74 fishermen, 59 were released and repatriated to Tamil Nadu. Since 2020,67 fishing boats have been in the custody of Sri Lanka. The latest incident occurred on July 9, 2023, when the Sri Lankan Navy apprehended 15 Indian fishermen.

"Further, during the same period, Tamil fishermen were attacked /assaulted by Sri Lankan Navy/ Sri Lankan Nationals in 38 different incidents. Such incidents often entail loot of materials, viz., ice box, fish catch, GPS, fishing gear, battery, and engine.

"Before 2018, the fishing boats of India or Sri Lanka that were apprehended by the authorities on either side were released following due legal process by the Governments concerned as a regular enforcement practice.

"Unfortunately, the Government of Sri Lanka amended its Fisheries Act in 2018, enabling the Sri Lanka to nationalise foreign fishing boats.

"Due to this enactment, the seized fishing boats of our fishermen that are in good condition cannot be salvaged and brought back to Tamil Nadu.

"Many fishermen have invested their life savings in acquiring and maintaining their boats, which are vital both for their trade and as the primary income source for their families.

"The nationalisation of these boats without proper compensation or alternative arrangements results in a loss of livelihood and pushes the fishermen into financial distress."

He ended his letter by writing about the protection of the rights of Sri Lankan Tamils.

"It is imperative to protect the social, political, cultural and economic rights of the Tamils in Sri Lanka so that they can lead dignified lives as equal citizens of Sri Lanka. For this purpose, there must be adequate and meaningful devolution of powers to the provinces, which fulfils the genuine and unresolved aspirations of the Tamils in the island nation."

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president K Annamalai criticised Chief Minister Stalin's letter and asked what was his party doing when it was part of the Congress government at the Centre. He asked why did the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam(DMK) not make efforts to retrieve Katchatheevu then. He called it as a 'confession of the mistakes of the Congress-DMK government.'

Further, he alleged that the DMK had turned a blind eye to the death of large numbers of Sri Lankan Tamils in 2009 in order to get berths in the Union Cabinet. He said that PM Modi's concern for them was evident even then as he spoke about the issue while addressing a rally in Ludhiana.

He added that the Modi government had undertaken a number of welfare measures for the Sri Lankan Tamils, like construction of 51000 houses, ferry service to the Kankesanthurai port, development of railway lines and the Palaly Airport.

Regarding the devolution of powers, he said that both PM Modi and External Affairs Ministers S Jaishankar had conveyed to the Sri Lankan government that the 13th Amendment must be implemented.