The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : India should seek review of Kachatheevu agreement: CPI

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India should seek review of Kachatheevu agreement: CPI

Special Correspondent

“It should not hesitate to retaliate if attacks on fishermen continue”

— Photo: R. Shivaji Rao

FOR A CAUSE: CPI national secretary D. Raja, CPI state secretary D. Pandian, CPI leader R. Nallakannu and Tamil Nationalist Movement leader P. Nedumaran leading a demonstration to protest against Sri Lankan Navy action against Tamil Nadu fishermen, near the Sri Lankan High Commission in Chennai on Wednesday.

CHENNAI: CPI State secretary D. Pandian on Wednesday urged the Centre to warn the Sri Lankan government in no uncertain terms against the island Navy’s attacks on fishermen from Tamil Nadu.

“India should not hesitate to retaliate if the attacks continue. It should not allow the functioning of the Sri Lankan Deputy Commission unless the Sri Lankan government gives an assurance the there will be no attacks in the future. We will step up our agitation if there is no let up in the attacks,” Mr. Pandian told a demonstration organised by the party to condemn the killing of fishermen.

CPI national secretary D. Raja said India should seek review of the Kachatheevu agreement at the SAARC conference to restore the fishing rights of fishermen from Tamil Nadu. in areas around Kachatheevu. “If we are not able to restore the fishing rights, India should take efforts to retrieve Kachatheevu.”

He urged the Deputy High Commission officials to convey the anger of the people to the Sri Lankan government, saying continuous attacks against the fishermen would seriously strain ties between the countries.

Accusing the Sri Lankan government of ignoring the just demands of the island’s Tamils, he said a solution to the ethnic strife could not be found through military action. “Find a solution through political means.”

Warning that the U.S. had plans to set up a base in the Indian Ocean, Mr. Raja wanted the SAARC to take steps to foil the designs of the imperialist forces.

CPI national council member R. Nallakannu wanted to know why the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard could not protect the fishermen from the attacks of the Sri Lankan Navy.

Tamil Nationalist Movement leader Pazha Nedumaran said coastal security teams, comprising fishermen, should be constituted to prevent attacks.

The leaders and cadres were arrested when they proceeded towards the Deputy High Commission. They were released in the evening.

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