Jayalalithaa to Manmohan: Act against Sri Lanka for attacking Indian fishermen

CHENNAI: Describing India's concerns on safety of its fishermen as having fallen on 'deaf ears' of Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa on Monday asked the Centre to take a "strong stand" against Colombo and "convey its serious apprehension through tough words and action".

In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, she said the attacks should be viewed as a national issue and not as an isolated problem of Tamil Nadu. "I request you to kindly take a strong stand against the government of Sri Lanka with regard to such attacks on our fishermen and convey your serious apprehension through tough words and action", she said.

Jayalalithaa said there had been over 22 incidents of attacks of Tamil Nadu fishermen by Lankan authorities since May this year and six major ones during the past one month.