Jayalalithaa writes to Indian PM against Swamy remark
September 3, 2014 08:17 am
Tamil Nadu chief minister JJayalalithaa on Tuesday took exception to reported remarks of BJP leaderSubramanianSwamy that he had advised the Sri Lankan government not to release the boats of Tamil Nadu fishermen, Times of India reports.
In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a copy of which was released to the media, the chief minister pointed to a televised interview of the BJP leader on September 1. “It is particularly distressing that a senior member of the BJP has, in a televised media interview, stated it was he who advised the Sri Lankan government not to release the boats of Tamil Nadu fishermen. This statement of Swamy has given rise to resentment and angst not only among the fishing community but also among people of Tamil Nadu,” she said.
She expressed confidence that Swamy’s remarks were not the official views of the BJP or the Union government. State BJP chief Tamilisai Soundararajan said Swamy’s comments pertaining to release of Indian fishermen’s boats were “spoiling the efforts” of the party and the Centre to resolve the problems of fisherfolk. “I have reported the matter to the party high command,” she said adding, Swamy’s statement is not the official line of the BJP. “We have made progress in the fishermen’s issue as meetings have been held and the PMO has also stepped in to facilitate talks between officials from both countries”.