Daijiworld Media Network – Chennai
Chennai, Oct 16: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to address critical issues concerning the state’s fishermen with visiting Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya during her three-day India visit from October 16 to 18.
In his letter, Stalin sought the Prime Minister’s intervention on the retrieval of Katchatheevu Island, the release of 76 Indian fishermen and 242 fishing boats held by Sri Lankan authorities, and to address recurring incidents of harassment and theft at sea.
Calling the visit an opportunity to resolve the “persistent challenges faced by Indian fishermen in the traditional fishing waters of the Palk Bay,” Stalin highlighted that Tamil Nadu’s fishing communities have endured “harassment, attacks, and apprehensions” by the Sri Lankan navy since 2021. He noted that 1,482 fishermen and 198 boats have been apprehended in 106 incidents, causing economic and emotional distress.
Stalin reiterated that Katchatheevu Island, historically part of India, was transferred to Sri Lanka “without the consent of the Tamil Nadu government,” and the state Assembly has opposed the move since 1974. He urged the Centre to initiate talks with the visiting Lankan PM to reclaim the island and restore traditional fishing rights for Tamil Nadu fishermen.
The Chief Minister also flagged the 2018 amendment to Sri Lanka’s Fisheries Act, which allows the nationalisation of seized Indian fishing boats, creating severe financial hardship for fishermen. He called for reviving the Joint Working Group (JWG) on Fisheries, which has not met regularly in recent years, to provide a structured platform for resolving bilateral fishing issues.
Stalin emphasized the “human and economic toll” of continued arrests and attacks and appealed to PM Modi for sustained diplomatic efforts toward a lasting solution. He noted that ahead of upcoming Tamil Nadu elections, he has written 11 letters to the Prime Minister and 72 to the External Affairs Minister, reflecting the state’s consistent efforts to seek central intervention.
While the BJP at the Centre previously blamed the Congress for ceding Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka, opinion among fishermen and experts is divided. Some welcome the idea of retrieval, while others suggest securing a long-term lease agreement with Sri Lanka to legally fish in Lankan waters, arguing that most fish remain in Indian waters.