It is inevitable for the Indian government to engage with the Sri Lankan establishment to bring about a permanent solution to the sufferings of Tamil Nadu fishermen as well as Sri Lankan Tamils, said Indian BJP general secretary Muralidhar Rao.
Speaking at a seminar organized to chalk out a solution to the sufferings of Tamil Nadu fishermen at the hands of Sri Lankan Navy in the Palk Bay, Rao wondered if Modi’s government had refused to maintain any relationship with the Lankan government, how could he have saved the lives of five Tamil Nadu fishermen, who were sentenced to death in the island nation. Moreover, to keep China at bay, India needed to have good relations with the island nation. China has already marked its imprint in Lanka by taking up many infrastructure projects and it would be detrimental for both India and Lanka to allow China to expand its footprint, he said.
Even Tamils in Sri Lanka want India to maintain relationship with the Lankan establishment. Politicians in Tamil Nadu were the only ones opposing it, he said adding that they were using fishermen and Lankan Tamil issue only for electoral gains. He called upon the Lankan authorities to learn from India’s experience on how to deal with its ethnic diversity. India was committed to strengthening democracy in Lanka, he said.
