Jaya shedding crocodile tears for fisherfolk: Minister

Chennai, Feb 27 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Fisheries Minister K P P Samy today clarified that the state government had paid a compensation of Rs One lakh from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund to the next of kin of the fisherman who was killed when Lankan Navy personnel fired at his boat at Akkarapettai in Nagapattinam yesterday.

In a statement here, the minister, who alleged that AIADMK General Secretary J Jayalaithaa's was shedding crocodile tears for fisherfolk also charge that the Lankan naval personnel had also killed the two sons of the fisherman Kaliaperumal.

He clarified that one of Kaliaperumal's sons Bhaskaran who had put out to sea along with five other fishermen on December 4, 1996 went missing. His family was paid a relief of Rs 1.25 lakh.

He also pointed out that another son Jagannathan who put out to sea for fishing on April 1, 1998, accidentally fell from the boat and was drowned in the sea. His family was also paid a compensation of Rs 1, 50,000.

He charged that Ms Jayalalithaa had been ''praising herself'' that during her rule, the relief works for tsunami victims were implemented smoothly. But the relief amount for the tsunami victims was ''blocked and no houses were built for the affected fisherfolk''.

he charged.

He also charged that Ms Jayalalithaa had not bothered to convene even a single review meeting, but she was now making statements as if she was the protector of fisherfolk.

Mr Samy pointed out that for the welfare and development of the fisherfolk, the present government had constituted a seperate ''Fishermen Welfare Board''.

The fisherfolk themselves were well aware that the Karunanidhi government has been making earnest efforts to raise their standard of living.

Ms Jayalalithaa's ''drama and false concern'' for them would cut any ice with the fisherfolk'', he alleged.

UNI