Evolve strategy to solve fishermen issue: PMK

NDA ally, PMK today asked the Centre to evolve a practical strategy to solve the contentious fishermen issue involving India and Sri Lanka and stressed that the row could be resolved only through dialogue.
"The Central government should investigate the actual issues involved and evolve a practical strategy to solve this contentious issue," PMK chief Ramadoss said here today.
Stating that the vexed issue could be settled only through dialogue, he said it was the responsibility of the Centre to facilitate consultations between the fishermen of two countries and help them comply with agreements arrived in such talks.
He took exception to the Coast Guard's recent affidavit in the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court that Indian fishing boats reportedly crossed the International Maritime Boundary Line in the Palk Bay and engaged in poaching.

Ramadoss said this was an "insult" to the Tamil Nadu fishermen and "highly condemnable."
"The government should stop blaming the Tamil Nadu fishermen," he said and urged it to probe the actual issues and intricacies involved so as to help solve the problem.
"The area of sea between the two nations is very narrow. The International border comes within 12 nautical miles from Rameswaram," he said.
Admitting that Indian fishermen enter Lankan waters, he, however, said it was very rare but unavoidable.He also pointed out that Lankan fishermen also enter Indian waters.