MK warns against attack on Indian fishermen by Lankan Navy

Chennai, Mar 5 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today warned against continuous attack on Indian fishermen by the Lankan Navy personnel.

Replying to a question on the recurring incidents of attack on fishermen by the Lankan navy, Mr Karunanidhi said Tamil Nadu fishermen would not keep their hands tied if such incidents continued.

Noting that this month alone four such incidents had taken place, he said the state government had written several letters to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the issue.

''If the attacks continued, no one should think that the hands of Tamil Nadu fishermen will be engaged in fishing alone,'' he cautioned.

On reports that Lok Sabha Speaker was likely to allow a discussion in Parliament on the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, Mr Karunanidhi said if that was allowed, then the House should also allow a discussion on Mullaperiyar dam issue.

The dam issue was a bone of contention between Tamil Nadu and Kerala, with the former favouring restoring the storage level in the dam to its original level of 142 ft and the latter opposing it tooth and nail.

''If a discussion was allowed on Cauvery, then a question will arise on whether the House will also allow a discussion on the Mullaperiyar issue'', he said.

''Let's wait and see. We hope that different stands will not be taken on the Cauvery and Mullaperiyar issue,'' he added.

On reports in a section of the press that the state would stand to lose Rs 20 crore as the cost of cycles for the Free Bicycle Scheme was Rs 400 more than the amount spend by the Madhya Pradesh government, Mr Karunanidhi said the government would take adequate steps in this regard.

''The state government will not remain a silent spectator to it,'' he said.

UNI