Chennai, Nov 13 (NationPress) The president of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC), K. Selvaperunthagai, has vehemently condemned the BJP-led Centre for what he describes as “continuous and intolerable inaction” regarding the ongoing arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy.

In an extensive statement, he claimed that the Centre is neglecting repeated requests from the state government and failing to engage in any significant diplomatic discussions with Sri Lanka.

Selvaperunthagai emphasized that Tamil Nadu fishermen, who risk their lives at sea for their livelihood, are subjected to harassment, arrests, confiscation of boats, and debilitating financial penalties under the Sri Lankan Fisheries Act, 2018. This legislation permits Sri Lankan courts to impose fines of up to Rs one crore for each seized vessel, an exorbitant sum that plunges the families of impoverished fishermen into severe financial hardship.

He pointed out that Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has sent several letters to the Union Ministry of External Affairs, seeking urgent intervention, yet the Centre has not taken any substantive action.

“Despite clear evidence of increasing arrests, the Union government remains unresponsive. There has been no genuine diplomatic initiative to tackle this longstanding issue,” he stated.

The TNCC president also criticized the Union government for its failure to effectively activate the India-Sri Lanka Joint Working Group on Fisheries, which was set up in 2016 to meet biannually and resolve such matters through structured dialogue.

“In the span of nine years, the group has convened only seven times, whereas it should have held at least 18 meetings by now. This lack of interaction signifies the Union government’s reluctance to seek a lasting resolution,” he remarked.

Selvaperunthagai noted that the crisis has escalated in recent years. In 2024 alone, 128 Tamil Nadu fishermen were detained and 248 boats were seized by Sri Lankan authorities. Recently, 14 additional fishermen from the Mayiladuthurai area were captured, further escalating tensions along the coastline.

He underscored that the livelihoods of over 20 lakh fishermen across 422 coastal villages in 13 Tamil Nadu districts have been severely affected by the ongoing arrests and seizures.

“This is not just a diplomatic matter; it concerns the survival of millions of families reliant on daily fishing,” he asserted.

Selvaperunthagai called on the External Affairs Ministry to promptly commence discussions involving representatives of both Tamil Nadu and Sri Lankan fishermen to achieve a peaceful and lasting solution. He also urged Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to maintain pressure on the Centre to prioritize this issue and safeguard the rights and lives of Tamil Nadu’s fishermen.