Representatives of fishermen from coastal districts of Nagapattinam, Pudukottai and Ramanathapuram called on Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Monday and thanked her for the measures being taken for their welfare.
Talking to reporters after a 15-minute meeting with the Chief Minister at the Secretariat, the representatives said they had requested her to take immediate steps to release 210 Tamil Nadu fishermen who were languishing in Sri Lankan prisons and to get back their 72 boats seized by the island’s navy.
They said Chief Minister listened to their grievances and assured that efforts were on to release 210 fishermen in Lankan prisons and she would expedite the process.
Asked whether the ongoing fast in Nagapattinam would be ended following the Chief Minister’s promise, the representatives said they would take a decision in this regard only after consulting their colleagues.
During the meeting, the fishermen thanked Chief Minister for rescuing and extending financial assistance to those affected by cyclone Phailin in Odisha and the steps she had taken to release the fishermen arrested by Lankan Navy frequently. They also thanked the Chief Minister for announcing fish landing centres and a fishing harbour in Ramanathapuram district. (ENS)
