DMDK chief condemns Lankan Navy firing

Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, Jul 13 (UNI) Accusing the Dravidian parties of failing to safeguard the lives of innocent fishermen, Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) founder-President Vijayakanth today demanded that the Centre retrieve Katchatheevu Island be given to Sri Lanka to protect the interests of Tamil Nadu fishermen.

The actor-politician, who led a demonstration to condemn the Lankan Navy attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen here, said the Dravidian parties, both DMK and AIADMK, in Tamil Nadu, during their successive tenures, had failed to find an amicable solution to the fishermen's issues.

He urged the ruling DMK not to support the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre on the nuclear deal, until it finds a permanent solution to the plight of the fishermen here.

If the DMK Government was really concerned about the fishermen, they should pull out of the UPA, he added.

Strongly condemning the ''highhandedness'' of the Lankan Navy, Mr Vijayakanth said if his party was voted to power in the next elections, he would find a permanent and amicable solution to the issues of the fishermen.

More than 6,000 fishermen and volunteers of the DMDK, including about 2,000 women, participated in the demonstration.

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