Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa called for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s “personal intervention” to secure the release of 31 Indian fishermen who were arrested by the Sri Lankan navy this weekend.
"I urge your personal intervention... And request you to direct the Ministry of External Affairs to take up the matter with the Sri Lankan authorities at the highest level to secure the immediate release [of the arrested fishermen]" said the chief minister.
Ms Jayalalithaa went on to add "the recurring instances of apprehension of our fishermen while they are engaged in fishing in their traditional fishing waters in the high seas in the Palk Bay, by the Sri Lankan navy and their prolonged detention is causing great unrest amongst the fishermen community across the state."
"The Sri Lankan strategy of not releasing the boats of the fishermen is causing great long term economic loss to the poor fishermen whose only means of livelihood is being snatched away," she added.
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