Ramadoss says DMK fast only drama to cheat fishermen!

Chennai, July 18 (UNI) Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder-leader Dr S Ramadoss today described as just ''drama to cheat the fishermen'', the one-day fast to be observed by the ruling DMK tomorrow to condemen the attack on fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy.

In a strongly worded statement, he said having missed every opportunity to get back the rights of fishermen over Katchatheevu, the DMK was now organising the fast. This was nothing but an attempt to cheat the fishermen.

If at all the DMK wanted the Centre to act on the issue, the party should have observed the fast in front of Red Fort in New Delhi and not in the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu, he charged.

He said the DMK was in power in the state when Katchatheevu was given to Sri Lanka on a platter in 1974. Since then, Mr Karunanidhi had not taken any step to retrieve the island though he had been the most influential and popular leader in the country.

Mr Karunanidhi, while sharing power at the Centre, could have atleast tried to get back the fishing rights of Indian fishermen around Katchateevu, he said.

After remaining passive for all these years, he wanted to know who the DMK was trying to cheat by observing the fast now, Dr Ramadoss said.

''If the DMK is really interested in finding a solution and putting an end to the attack on fishermen, it should prevail upon the Centre to warn Sri Lanka'', he said.

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