Northern fishermen hit out at politicos who make beeline to meet Indian envoy

Last week was a bit hectic for many Tamil politicos due to the visit of Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla. Many of them, even from newly formed parties tried to get an audience with him but with little success. It was said that those who met him took up the Tamil cause and issues faced by the community.

Northern fishermen who staged a protest on Friday against the assault of two local fishermen from Jaffna by Indian fishers in mid-sea early this week, accused these very same Tamil political parties of letting them down miserably and engaging in petty politics for their own survival.

One fishermen leader pointed out that not a single Tamil political party- including the self-proclaimed sole representatives of the Tamil people - the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) took up the issue of ongoing poaching by Indian fishermen in northern waters at the expense of the livelihood of local fishermen.

“If these leaders who were elected from the north and are expected to raise our concerns kept their mouth shut for their own political survival, how can we expect the government to do anything?” a northern fishermen leader asked, pertinently. Another said that the TNA and others are more interested in what happens in Geneva than what happens in the Palk Straits and the Gulf of Mannar.