Tamil Nadu Fishermen Protest Against Sri Lankan Navy’s Detention of 17 Fishermen
On Sunday, fishermen from Tamil Nadu took to the streets to protest against the Sri Lankan Navy’s detention of 17 Indian fishermen and the seizure of two boats off the coast of Rameswaram. The protesters, including both men and women, were seen sitting on the streets, raising their voices and chanting slogans.
The detained fishermen have been identified as Markmillan (37), Milton (49), Ronald (48), Sesuraja (45), Jeevan Frisher (22), Suresh (45), Arul Dhinakaran (24), Durai (39), and Maria Sethin (26) from Thangachimadam, as well as Ardiya Nicho (26), Jebastian (38), Rajeev (36), Vivek (36), Innachie (36), Samuel (33), Brichan (31), and Bhaskaran (30). The two boats that were seized belonged to fishermen Thangachimadam Vyadaraj and Thangachimadam Selvam.
According to the Rameswaram fishermen association, the detained fishermen were fishing in the Palk Bay area near Nedunthivu, having set out to sea with 309 boats. They had permission from the Rameswaram Fisheries Department to venture into the sea. The fishermen were taken to Mannar port for questioning.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin wrote a letter to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, requesting the release of the 17 fishermen. In his letter, CM Stalin highlighted the distress and uncertainty caused by the detention of fishermen and the confiscation of their boats. He urged for concrete and proactive steps to resolve the issue diplomatically.
Earlier, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi also wrote a letter to Jaishankar, requesting the release of 37 Tamil fishermen detained by Sri Lankan authorities on September 21, 2024. According to the letter, the fishermen were arrested while attempting to rescue a Sri Lankan boat in distress.
The arrests of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy have been a concerning issue for both the Tamil Nadu government and the central government.
Doubts Revealed
Tamil Nadu -: Tamil Nadu is a state in the southern part of India. It is known for its rich culture, temples, and beautiful coastline.
Sri Lankan Navy -: The Sri Lankan Navy is the naval branch of the armed forces of Sri Lanka, a country located to the south of India.
Detention -: Detention means keeping someone in custody or holding them back. In this case, it means the Sri Lankan Navy has captured and is holding the fishermen.
Rameswaram -: Rameswaram is a town in Tamil Nadu, India. It is famous for its temples and is located near the sea.
Chief Minister MK Stalin -: MK Stalin is the current Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. A Chief Minister is the head of the government in an Indian state.
Lok Sabha -: Lok Sabha is the lower house of India’s Parliament. It is where elected representatives discuss and make laws.
Leader of Opposition -: The Leader of Opposition is the head of the largest party not in government in the Lok Sabha. They play a key role in checking the government’s actions.
Rahul Gandhi -: Rahul Gandhi is an Indian politician and a member of the Indian National Congress party. He is a prominent leader in the Lok Sabha.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar -: S Jaishankar is the current Minister of External Affairs in India. He handles India’s foreign relations and international affairs.
Diplomatic solutions -: Diplomatic solutions involve solving problems through discussion and negotiation between countries, rather than using force or conflict.