Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking him to take up key issues with Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe, including the matter of Katchatheevu island, the detention of Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan authorities, and the aspirations of the Tamil-speaking section of the island nation’s populace.
The letter comes ahead of Wickremesinghe’s upcoming visit to New Delhi, scheduled to start on Friday.
Citing the demand to retrieve Katchatheevu, Stalin’s letter said the island has historically been a part of India, and that fishermen from Tamil Nadu have traditionally fished in the waters around this island.
“The transfer of Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka, by the Union government, without the state government’s consent, has deprived Tamil Nadu fishermen’s rights and adversely impacted their livelihoods,” the letter said, referring to the Tamil Nadu government’s protests in 1974. Stalin also mentioned the attempts by former chief minister M Karunanidhi, including an appeal to the then PM in 2006, for the retrieval of Katchatheevu in order to create “congenial conditions for Tamil Nadu fishermen to lead a peaceful life”.
“Our fishermen face highly restricted access to traditional fishing grounds, increased harassment by the Sri Lankan Navy, and arrests by the Sri Lankan Navy on trespassing charges. Restoring the right to fish in the traditional fishing grounds of Palk Bay has always been among the top priorities of the government of Tamil Nadu,” the letter said.
“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,” the letter added.
Source: The Indian Express
