Fishing community angry at State, Central govts: Vaiko

Chennai, Feb 17 (PTI) Charging the Centre with ''failing''to protect Indian fishermen against attacks allegedly by theSri Lankan navy, MDMK leader Vaiko today said the fishingcommunity was angry against the Centre and State governments.

"The DMK, which is part of the central government, cannotfool people by courting arrest. The fishermen are angryagainst the Central and State governments," Vaiko toldreporters here on the sidelines of his party''s GeneralCouncil.

DMK leaders, including Member of Parliament Kanimozhi,were arrested yesterday for trying to take out a protest marchtowards the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission here against thedetention of 136 Indian fishermen in Sri Lanka.

Vaiko alleged that during the recent visit of ForeignSecretary Nirupama Rao to Colombo to take up the issue ofattacks on Indian fishermen with the Sri Lankan government,Lankan authorities had not responded properly to India''sconcerns.

On the MDMK''s General Council resolutions passed today,he said the party had resolved to work to bring down the DMKgovernment in the Assembly elections scheduled in May bypitting the issue of "loot by a particular family" against theneed for welfare of the people of the state.

A long-time ally of AIADMK, Vaiko said issues such asprice-rise, 2G spectrum allocation scam and derteriorating lawand order situation would work against the DMK-Congresscombine.

Asked if he would contest the Assembly elections, Vaikosaid it would be known only after the party finalises the listof candidates.

Vaiko had unsuccessfully contested the 2009 Lok Sabhapolls from Virudhunagar, losing to Congress. PTI SA ARP RA

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