Fishermen faking attacks, claims TNCC

State Congress Committee president Gnanadesikan has questioned the veracity of the repeated incidents where Tamil Nadu fishermen are subjected to attacks by Sri Lankan Navy off Rameshwaram, Speaking at the Congress party’s public meeting in Cuddalore on Saturday night, he said,  “Tamil Nadu fishermen issue is being projected as repeatedly occurring incidents. In 500 boats, around 4,000 fishermen venture into the sea for fishing at a time. Each boat carries eight fishermen normally. While there is such a huge contingent of TN fishermen on the high sea, how could a few Sri Lankan navy personnel beat just five TN fishermen in a boat?”

He further said that there was a need to delve deeper into the matter as there is something more that meets the eye.

“We will leave for New Delhi with a team of representatives of Rameshwaram fishermen to discuss a permanent solution to this problem,” he added.

On SL armymen training in Tamil Nadu, he said, “Only two SL officers are undergoing training. We also flagged the demand to send them back from our country. But, Vaiko is doing a propaganda as if the entire SL army is undergoing training here.”

On the Cauvery issue, he said, “The prime minister is taking measures to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu as per the interim order of the tribunal even though a case regarding this is pending before the Supreme Court. But, some people are still blaming the prime minister, although he is discharging his duties.”