Karunanidhi wants Centre to take up fishermen issue with Sri Lanka

CHENNAI: A day after a Sri Lankan court extended the remand of 30 Indian fishermen till May 20, DMK chief M Karunanidhi today asked the Centre and Tamil Nadu government to immediately bring the issue to the notice of the Island government and resolve the matter.

"While the 30 fishermen in Anuradhapuram prison were hopeful of being released on May 6, Mannar District Court has extended their remand till May 20," he said in a statement.

Observing that their remand has been extended for the fourth time, the DMK patriarch said "Central and state governments should take action immediately. I insist that the Centre bring this issue to the notice of the Lankan government and find a solution for the problem."

He also sought Centre's action for the release of another 26 fishermen from Karaikal, who are imprisoned in Lanka.

Karunanidhi also drew the government's attention to the reported information that "some influential people" with fishing trawlers were exempted from the fishing ban between April 15 and May 29 in the Indian waters.

"Isn't it an act that will affect fishermen? I insist that the Centre intervene in this issue immediately and withdraw the exemption given to these people," he said.