DMK MPs call on PM Manmohan Singh, seek action for Tamil Nadu fishermen's release

CHENNAI: A delegation of DMK MPs, led by TR Baalu, called upon Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and urged him to take steps to get Tamil Nadu fishermen released from Sri Lankan prisons.

Referring to the arrest of 57 fishermen in the past week by Sri Lanka, the MPs in a memorandum submitted to Singh said that this act of the Sri Lankan Navy only proved that the steps taken by the Centre had "totally failed in protecting the Indian fishermen."

Urging the Prime Minister to initiate steps to convene a meeting of Ministers, elected representatives and fishermen representatives of both India and Sri Lanka, the DMK Parliamentarians said a permanent solution, beneficial to fishermen of both countries should be arrived at, the memorandum, a copy of which was made available to the media here, said.

"Take immediate steps to release Tamil Nadu fishermen suffering in Sri Lankan prisons", the memorandum said.