Members of the Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi (TVK) staged a protest demonstration in Rameswaram, against the alleged attack on Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy, demanding the release of all arrested fishermen with their trawlers.

Party founder leader T. Velmurugan, who led the agitation on Friday, condemned the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led NDA government at the Centre for failing to protect the livelihood of fishermen and their traditional fishing rights in the Palk Bay.

It was a matter of regret that the State and Central governments could not find a solution to the issue and the fishermen had to venture into the sea for their livelihood amid fear of attack and arrest by the Lankan navy, he charged.

Even on Thursday night, the Lankan navy had attacked eleven fishermen and chased away 200 Rameswaram fishermen, when they were fishing on the high seas, he claimed.

As the Lankan navy started attacking them, they abandoned their nets and other paraphernalia and returned to the shore, he said.

This kind of attack and humiliation continued for several years and the Centre remained a silent spectator, he said.

The BJP which assured to establish a separate ministry for fisheries, ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, failed to implement the poll promise, he said.

It was high time, the Centre took speedy steps to retrieve Katchatheevu and ensured that the fishermen carried out fishing activities without any problem, he said.

The Lankan navy has so far arrested 24 fishermen since the new fishing season began on May 30 and more than 90 boats had been detained in the island nation, he said and demanded the immediate release.

Families of the 24 arrested fishermen were put to untold hardships after their sole breadwinners were detained in Lankan prisons for several days, he said.

Source: The Hindu