PM assures Vaiko to protect fishermen

Chennai, Mar 10 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has assured that he would talk to Defence Minister A K Antony to give instructions to the Indian Navy to protect the fishermen from being attacked by the Sri Lankan navy.

Dr Singh gave this assurance to MDMK General Secretary Vaiko when the latter met him at New Delhi today and handed over a letter, a MDMK release said here.

During the meeting, Mr Vaiko urged the Prime Minister to issue a warning to the Sri Lankan Government to prevent killing of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy.

Responding to this, the Prime Minister said he would talk to the Defence Minister to give instructions to the Indian navy to protect the fishermen from further attacks.

Killing of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Lankan navy had become the order of the day and the Indian Navy and Coast guard were mute spectators to such murderous attacks, Mr Vaiko said.

Condemning the killing of a fisherman from Rameswaram, Mr Vaiko wanted the Indian Government to give a stern warning to Sri Lanka to stop further attacks and instruct the Navy and Coast guard to protect the fishermen.

In another letter, Mr Vaiko urged the Prime Minister to issue necessary instructions to send the relief materials to the suffering Eelam Tamils through the Red Cross society as a humanitarian gesture.

UNI