Jayalalithaa appeals to PM to help secure release of Tamil Nadu fishermen

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has appealed to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to take immediate steps through diplomatic channels to secure the release of all fishermen who are in Sri Lankan custody.

In a letter to Dr. Singh, Jayalalithaa said the Centre has to take positive and concrete steps to secure the early release of the 82 fishermen who are already in Lankan jails for months, besides the 35 arrested recently.

Listing out the various instances since 2011 in which fishermen were taken into custody, Jayalalithaa said that five fishermen from Rameswaram were charged in a fabricated case.

She also brought to the notice of the Prime Minister the plight of the fishermen who are being deprived of their livelihood.

External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid had earlier last week said New Delhi remains engaged with Colombo to ensure that fishermen on both sides can continue to pursue their livelihood in a safe, secure and sustainable manner.

Khurshid, who made a statement in the Rajya Sabha regarding 'Repeated Attacks on Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy', said that the government attaches the highest importance to the safety, security and welfare of Indian fishermen.

"In response to reports of incidents of attacks on Indian fishermen, the Government, through diplomatic channels, immediately takes up the matter issues relating to incidents of firing on or apprehension of our fishermen with the Government of Sri Lanka to ensure that the Sri Lankan Navy acts with restraint and our fishermen are treated in a humane and pragmatic manner," he added.