TNCC chief Gnanadesikan claimed that attacks on the Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy continue unabated and that the situation has become alarming as nothing was being done to save the hapless fishermen.
Hitting out at the BJP government at the Centre for doing precious little to stop the attacks, he told reporters here on Sunday that during the Congress-led UPA regime, the then government took steps to get the fishermen and their boats released.
“But despite the claims of the BJP government and assurances by external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, the fishermen’s vessels were yet to be returned,” he said and demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi to use his goodwill with Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and secure the fishing boats. Disputing this, BJP senior leader L. Ganesan said only after Mr Modi took over as Prime Minister did the Lanka the situation improve. Lanka had not only released the fishermen but also halted the attacks.
“Both Mr Modi and Ms Sushma are pursuing the issue. They will ensure a smooth and lasting solution for our fishermen. Also, they are bestowing special attention towards ensuring a dignified life for the Lankan Tamils,” he said, the Deccan Chronicle reports.
