BJP opposes Lanka's desire for joint monitoring of IMBL

Chennai, Mar 14 (UNI) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today strongly opposed Sri Lanka's proposal for a joint monitoring of the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) along with the Indian Navy.

''There is no need for a joint inspection as it may lead to some other problems. Let the Indian and Sri Lankan Navies maintain vigil along their respective boundary lines,'' BJP National Secretary S Thirunavukkarasar told a press conference here.

He pointed out that various political parties and outfits in Tamil Nadu had also expressed their reservation over Sri Lanka's proposal.

Urging the Centre to issue a stern warning to Sri Lanka to stop attacking Indian fishermen in the high sea, he demanded that the UPA Government give adequate relief to victims and their families.

Mr Thirunavukkarasar said retrieval of Katchatheevu from Sri Lanka would give a permanent solution to the problem and urged the Centre to take steps in this regard.

Stating that fishermen from Tamil Nadu were living under constant fear due to attacks by the Sri Lankan Navy, he charged the Centre with having not taken any step to prevent such incidents.

Though MPs from Tamil Nadu raised the issue in Parliament, neither the Prime Minister nor the External Affairs Minister deemed it necessary to offer an explanation, he said and added that the Centre had not considered the plight of Tamil fishermen an important issue.

''Why the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard are remaining a spectator to such incidents? They should immediately swing into action,'' he said.

Mr Thirunavukkarasar said the state unit of the BJP would stage a demonstration in the city on March 17 to condemn the attacks on Indian fishermen.

UNI