No agreement for joint patrol of Palk Strait: MK

Chennai, Apr 2: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today categorically stated in the Assembly that he had not agreed to the proposal for joint patrolling of Palk Strait by the Indian and Sri Lankan Navies.

Replying to a special calling attention motion on the attack on Indian fishermen in high seas, he said when DMK Ministers and functionaries staged a demonstration before the Sri Lankan Consulate here recently, they were informed about the proposal by the Lankan officials.

Stating that it was for the Centre to take a decision in this regard, he saud he had also cautioned then that it should not be an unsuitable alliance like the ''one between a mouse and frog,'' he recalled.

But, there had been a campaign that he had agreed for a joint patrolling and was being criticised for it, the Chief Minister added.

Referring to MDMK General Secretary Vaiko's criticism that he had become a mouthpiece of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Mr Karunanidhi appealed to all political parties to be united on issues of public importance.

All should put in effort to find a solution to issues like Cauvery, reservation and the attack on Tamil fishermen, he said and cautioned the state's interest would be affected if the parties fought with one another.

Mr Karunanidhi said over the last decade, the lives of both Sri Lankan Tamils and those who went from Tamil Nadu were endangered. Amidst failure of peace talks and a question mark about its consequences in the island nation, the attacks on Indian fishermen by the Lankan Navy had occurred, he said. Recalling his stern warning that the state would not remain a mute spectator if the attacks against fishermen continued, he also pointed out that he had written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi in this regard.

Earlier, speaking on the motion, members of the AIADMK, Congress, PMK, CPI(M) and the CPI expressed concern over continued attacks on fishermen and urged the state government to pressurise the Centre to take steps to protect them.

Mr D Jayakumar (AIADMK) urged the government to extend a compensation of Rs five lakh to the families of victims.

Calling for a joint patrolling by the Navies of both countries to prevent such incidents, Mr C Gnanasekaran (Congress) said some political leaders were issuing contradictory statements on the issue.

His remarks against AIADMK General Secretary J Jayalalithaa and MDMK chief Vaiko evoked loud protest from members of AIADMK and MDMK leading to a ruckus in the House for a shortwhile.

Mr T Velmurugan (PMK) condemned the brutal killing of Tamil fishermen and demanded retrieval of Katchatheevu from Sri Lanka to find a permanent solution to the problem.

Mr John Joseph (CPIM) and Mr V Sivapunniyam (CPI) also expressed concern and urged the state to prevail upon the Centre to take immediate measures to protect Tamil fishermen.

UNI