Fishermen issue: Jaya slams Centre's meek & passive approach

Referring to two separate incidents that had occurred on November 5, Jayalalithaa said a total of 30 fishermen from Ramanathapuram and Pudukottai districts, and seven boats were “unlawfully abducted by the Sri Lankan Navy.”

She said 56 fishermen who had been apprehended earlier were still languishing in Sri Lankan jails, while 35 boats were under Sri Lanka's custody.

“Such harsh, punitive and repressive action, which amounts to depriving poor fishermen's families of their livelihood, deserves to be condemned in the strongest terms.  The Government of India cannot continue to remain a passive spectator in the face of the high-handed belligerence of the Sri Lankan Navy,” she said.

The Chief Minister urged Singh to personally intervene “through the highest diplomatic channels” at the earliest to secure the release of all 86 fishermen and 42 boats.