Former AIADMK Fisheries Minister and party spokesperson D Jayakumar launched a scathing attack on both the Union and Tamil Nadu state governments, accusing them of failing to protect the state’s fishermen. This criticism came in the wake of a recent incident where a Sri Lankan Naval ship allegedly rammed into a boat carrying four fishermen from Nagapattinam, leaving them stranded in the sea and causing extensive damage.
The four fishermen reported that their boat was deliberately struck by a Sri Lankan Naval vessel, which led to the boat capsizing. They sustained injuries, and their fishing gear, along with other equipment worth lakhs of rupees, was destroyed. The incident has reignited longstanding tensions between Tamil Nadu fishermen and Sri Lankan authorities over fishing rights in the contested waters of the Palk Strait.
In response to the incident, Jayakumar took to social media, condemning both the BJP-led Union government and the DMK government in Tamil Nadu for their silence on what he described as a “continuous assault” on Tamil Nadu fishermen. He also shared a video of the Nagapattinam fishermen expressing their anguish over the attack.
Strong Criticism of Both BJP and DMK
Jayakumar did not mince words in his criticism of the state’s Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, likening the DMK administration to a monarchy. He accused Stalin of being out of touch with the plight of Tamil Nadu’s fishing community, stating, “The CM without shame took refuge in the US after giving the State administration like a toy to his son (Udhayanidhi).” This remark referred to Stalin’s recent trip to the United States, during which time his son Udhayanidhi Stalin took charge of certain state responsibilities.
Furthering his attack, Jayakumar turned his attention to the BJP, which was previously an ally of the AIADMK. He accused the BJP-led central government of ignoring the plight of Tamil Nadu’s fishermen, alleging that the Centre’s focus was only on states like Gujarat, Bihar, and Andhra Pradesh. “The BJP government at the Centre behaves as if it has nothing to do with the plight of Tamil Nadu fishermen,” Jayakumar remarked, underscoring the perceived regional bias in addressing issues faced by coastal communities.