Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president K Selvaperunthagai has called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to sign an agreement with Sri Lanka to safeguard the fishing rights of Tamil Nadu fishermen. His demand comes in the wake of the recent arrest of 13 fishermen from Karaikal, Puducherry, by the Sri Lankan Navy.Selvaperunthagai highlighted that in 2024 alone, Sri Lanka has apprehended 554 Tamil Nadu fishermen and seized 72 of their boats. Despite repeated appeals from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin to both PM Modi and Union Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar, the issue remains unresolved.
Referring to the 1974 and 1976 agreements between India and Sri Lanka that redefined maritime boundaries, the TNCC chief asserted that the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) should not hinder the traditional fishing rights of Tamil fishermen. He argued that the Sri Lankan Navy lacks the authority to arrest Indian fishermen crossing the IMBL, as the island nation cannot deny their historical access to these waters.
Selvaperunthagai also pointed out that India has provided Sri Lanka with financial assistance amounting to $4 billion. Given India’s dominant position in the region, he urged PM Modi to engage in diplomatic talks and sign a pact with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to permanently resolve the long-standing issue.