Centre not understood “gravity” of fishermen issue: CPI

Welcoming the Tamil Nadu Government’s stand on the issue of Katchatheevu and recurring attacks on Indian fishermen allegedly by Sri Lankan Navy, leader of the Communist Party of India (CPI) D. Raja today said “prolonged indifferent” attitude by the Centre would have “serious impact on the country’s federal structure.” 

“The Central Government continues to remain indifferent to the concerns expressed by the political parties, the state government as well as the Tamil Nadu Assembly. In the long run, it will have serious impact on the federal structure of the country,” he was quoted as saying by PTI. 

Earlier today Tamil Nadu Governor K. Rosaiah, in his address to the assembly, expressed deep concern about continuing attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen and urged the Centre to take up this issue strongly with Colombo. 

Rosaiah also reiterated the state government’s clear resolve to “regain” Katchatheevu, an islet ceded to Sri Lanka by India in 1974 under an agreement, so as to restore the “lost rights” of its fishermen. 

“It is the Central Government which entered into an agreement with the Sri Lanka on the Katchatheevu. At that time, India had stated that the traditional rights of the Indian fishermen will continue”, Raja said adding it was the prime responsibility of the Centre to protect the interests of the Indian fishermen. 

Observing that alleged attacks on the fishermen continue to take place even after External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna’s recent visit to Colombo, Raja said the Centre had not understood the gravity of the issue.