Stalin accuses PM of ‘ignoring’ calls for of state’s fishermen throughout Modi’s Lanka go to
Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of ignoring the state’s calls for for resolving the fishermen situation with Sri Lanka, additional criticising him for failing to carry up the Katchatheevu island dispute throughout his latest go to to the neighbouring nation.
Stalin made the feedback within the state meeting, a day after he skipped the inauguration of the brand new Pamban bridge at Rameswaram the place the Prime Minister hit out on the DMK authorities. The confrontation between Stalin and Modi comes amid an ongoing row between the Centre and the Tamil Nadu authorities over points starting from the language row to the scheduled delimitation train.
“It seems no main measures had been undertaken for the discharge of fishermen in Lankan custody and retrieval of Katchatheevu island through the PM’s go to to Sri Lanka,” Stalin stated within the meeting on Monday. “That is regrettable and disappointing.”
Previous to the PM’s go to to the neighbouring nation throughout April 4-6, Stalin had written to Modi to talk to the Sri Lankan authorities to make sure the discharge of detained fishermen and their boats. “Within the yr 2024, 530 Indian fishermen have been arrested and within the first three months of the yr 2025, 147 fishermen had been apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy,” the CM stated in his letter dated April 2.
In his letter, Stalin had additionally urged the Centre to “take all steps” to retrieve Katchatheevu island –– a decision to this impact was unanimously handed by the state meeting on Sunday.
Sri Lanka, on Sunday, launched 14 Indian fishermen as a particular gesture coinciding with the PM’s go to. At a media interplay with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on April 5, Modi stated that the 2 sides had mentioned points associated to the livelihood of fishermen. “We agreed that we must always proceed with a humane strategy on this matter,” he stated. “We additionally emphasised the rapid launch of the fishermen and their boats.”
Stalin, on Monday, stated the DMK-led goverment would proceed to make sure the welfare of fishermen as he introduced schemes value ₹576 crore, together with a fishing harbour in Rameshwaram’s Thangachimadam. “We’re led to contemplate that the Union authorities and Prime Minister are neglecting our calls for. Irrespective of how the Union authorities behaves, we won’t fail to guard the livelihood of our fishermen,” Stalin stated.
Bharatiya Janata Celebration (BJP) chief Okay Annamalai, in response to Stalin’s feedback, criticised the CM for skipping the inauguration of the brand new Pamban bridge. “Yesterday, 14 of our fishermen had been launched and we imagine extra fishermen shall be launched quickly,” he additional stated.
On his persevering with as BJP chief amid alliance talks with former ally AIADMK, Annamalai additionally stated that he would abide by the instructions of Modi. “I’ll observe no matter he (PM) says,” Annamalai stated.
Final Friday, Annamalai stated that he’s out of the race for a second time period to his put up as there is no such thing as a contest within the BJP in contrast to different events. That is after the AIADMK had walked out of the NDA in 2023 solely blaming Annamalai for insulting their leaders. 18 months later, AIADMK’s basic secretary and chief of opposition Edappadi Palaniswami (EPS) met Union house minister Amit Shah on March 25.
