Tamil Nadu CM Urges Centre for Immediate Repatriation of Fishermen

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has urged the Central Government to intervene and secure the release of Indian fishermen and their boats detained by Sri Lanka. In a letter to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Stalin highlighted the adverse effects of frequent arrests and penalties on fishermen's livelihoods.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has called on the Centre to take immediate steps to repatriate Indian fishermen detained in Sri Lankan custody and to secure the release of their boats. Stalin has also requested that penalties imposed on the fishermen be waived on humanitarian grounds.

In a letter to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Stalin expressed concern over the recurring arrests by the Sri Lankan navy, noting that the apprehension of four Pudukkottai fishermen and their boat on September 4 was the latest in a series of such incidents.

Stalin emphasized that traditional waters have been essential for the livelihoods of fishermen and their families for generations. However, the seizure of boats and frequent arrests have caused significant hardship for coastal communities. On September 3, it was reported that a Sri Lankan court imposed a Rs 1.5 crore fine on 12 fishermen detained on July 21, which Stalin noted would exacerbate the distress faced by the affected families.

(With inputs from agencies.)