Stop Sri Lanka from auctioning boats: Tamil Nadu CM urges Modi

26 January 2022 01:29 pm - 10 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Tuesday urged the Union government to prevail upon the Sri Lankan government to stop the auctioning of boats seized by it and end the attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen.

In separate letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Stalin raised the proposed auction of 105 fishing boats seized from TN fishermen by the Lankan government and the January 23 attack on the State’s fishers by Lankan nationals respectively, New Indian Express reported.

“I strongly urge the Government of India to register its disapproval in the strongest possible terms to prevail upon the Sri Lankan Government to recall the process of auctioning the Tamil Nadu fishing boats between February 7 and 11 on which they do not have any legal rights,” the CM said in his letter to Modi.

Stating that the timing of the development is unfortunate as the Indo-Sri Lankan Joint Working Group on Fisheries is to meet soon, Stalin said, “The auction has created alarm and distrust among TN fishermen as they have come forward with an accommodative frame of mind to find an amicable solution for this long-pending issue.”

The State government had agreed to send a technical team to finalise the process and modalities for the disposal of 125 unsalvageable TN fishing boats berthed at various Sri Lanka harbours, the CM said.

Stalin added that the tenders calling for auction of the fishing boats is bound to derail the efforts of the Indian High Commission and TN government in providing succour to the fishermen who lost their livelihood.

He pointed out that these fishing boats were released by various Lankan courts and requested the Union government to continue its efforts for the transparent disposal of the 125 TN boats apprehended before 2018 besides ensuring the early release of 75 boats and fishing gear apprehended since 2018 by the Sri Lankan Navy.

In his letter to Jaishankar, Stalin expressed concern about the attack on innocent TN fishermen by Lankan nationals. “India cannot continue to be a mute spectator as the rights of Indian fishermen are repeatedly trampled upon.

I request the Government of India to take this up with the Lankan government in a stern manner such that acts of physical assault and robbing or damaging of assets of TN fishermen do not take place in future,” he said. A group of fishermen from Pushpavanam in Nagappattinam district was reportedly attacked by unidentified Lankan nationals while fishing off the Vedaranyam coast. About 300 kg of fishing nets, GPS and VHF equipment and 30 litres of diesel were stolen.

At least 56 fishermen, who were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy in December, were released by a Jaffna court on Tuesday. Forty three fishermen from Rameswaram and 13 from Pudukkottai were arrested on December 18 and December 20 respectively for crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line.

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Comments - 10

Punchi Banda Wednesday, 26 January 2022 04:41 PM

This is good business, we seize expensive Tamil Nadu Fishing boats and auction them to our cronies for a few rupees. No need to build boats here

sunil Wednesday, 26 January 2022 04:53 PM

SL is desperate for dollars, they will sell anything

Lion Wednesday, 26 January 2022 05:19 PM

Tell your boys to not to venture in to SriLankan waters to steal the livelihood of our fishermen.

Buddhist Wednesday, 26 January 2022 05:42 PM

SL govt giving a long lead time to auction is to get Indian Govt to block the auction. This is another drama by SL Govt.

Senagi Attygalle Wednesday, 26 January 2022 06:26 PM

India and Tamil Nady are free to bid for these ships at auction.

Borat Wednesday, 26 January 2022 06:53 PM

No need to be done to put a full Stop . Unless of course there are deals . Fisherfolk in SL must fight to the last the drive the Indians off our seas

Martin Milton Wednesday, 26 January 2022 07:18 PM

NO WAY! You Sir had better stop these thieving rogues from destroying the livelihoods of Sri Lankan Jaffna fishermen FIRST! Till this is CERTAIN there should be NO WAY that these boats are spared. MM

Saman Thursday, 27 January 2022 02:52 AM

As soon as they are confiscated the boats should be destroyed to avoid political interference.

Ifthikar Lafir Thursday, 27 January 2022 06:46 AM

Please keep off Sri Lankan waters or may be how about returning our fishing stock you guys steal everyday? If not either SLNavy have to keep shooting or keep auctioneering your boats. Simple logic get it yaar!

Martin Milton Thursday, 27 January 2022 06:27 PM

That IS an excellent suggestion too. Destroy these boats as do other nations where poachers' boats are taken into custody and destroyed. If this is done a few times these thieves will learn a lesson - NOT otherwise. Please do NOT weaken or show any cowardice here. MM

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Stop Sri Lanka from auctioning boats: Tamil Nadu CM urges Modi

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