Published in The New Indian Express, Chennai on June 11, 2011:
By G Saravanan
Chennai: Several fishermen associations in the state as well as the Katchatheevu Retrieval Movement have welcomed the government’s resolution towards retrieving Katchatheevu that was ceded to Sri Lanka in 1974.
“We are happy that the Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has taken the right step towards retrieving the island from Sri Lanka by passing a unanimous resolution at the Assembly,” Seethayin Maindan, coordinator of Katchatheevu Retrieval Movement, which has been advocating this decision for long,told Express.
The AIADMK government should not stop after passing the resolution, which will help the state’s claim on the island. The party’s MPs should also move a private member bill in Parliament to question the legality of the agreement entered into between Indian and Lankan governments, Seethayin Maindan demanded.
Moving such a private bill would clarify the Centre’s stand on the agreement and it will eventually help the party’s MPs to take the issue for a logical conclusion in a time-bound manner, he added.
Besides, fishermen associations have also hailed the state government’s resolution on Katchatheevu. Speaking to Express, K Bharathi, president of South Indian Fishermen Welfare Association, said, “The state government has taken a right step towards retrieving the fish-rich island.”
“Besides retrieving the island from Lanka, the AIADMK-led government needs to win back the fishing rights for all Indian fishermen around the island from the neighbouring country as it would only help for any peaceful settlement,” Bharathi said. Echoing the same, S A Mahesh, president of All Indian Traditional Fishermen Association from Kanyakumari, said, “We feel that the resolution is a first and firm step towards retrieval.”
By G Saravanan
Chennai: Several fishermen associations in the state as well as the Katchatheevu Retrieval Movement have welcomed the government’s resolution towards retrieving Katchatheevu that was ceded to Sri Lanka in 1974.
“We are happy that the Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has taken the right step towards retrieving the island from Sri Lanka by passing a unanimous resolution at the Assembly,” Seethayin Maindan, coordinator of Katchatheevu Retrieval Movement, which has been advocating this decision for long,told Express.
The AIADMK government should not stop after passing the resolution, which will help the state’s claim on the island. The party’s MPs should also move a private member bill in Parliament to question the legality of the agreement entered into between Indian and Lankan governments, Seethayin Maindan demanded.
Moving such a private bill would clarify the Centre’s stand on the agreement and it will eventually help the party’s MPs to take the issue for a logical conclusion in a time-bound manner, he added.
Besides, fishermen associations have also hailed the state government’s resolution on Katchatheevu. Speaking to Express, K Bharathi, president of South Indian Fishermen Welfare Association, said, “The state government has taken a right step towards retrieving the fish-rich island.”
“Besides retrieving the island from Lanka, the AIADMK-led government needs to win back the fishing rights for all Indian fishermen around the island from the neighbouring country as it would only help for any peaceful settlement,” Bharathi said. Echoing the same, S A Mahesh, president of All Indian Traditional Fishermen Association from Kanyakumari, said, “We feel that the resolution is a first and firm step towards retrieval.”
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