Opposition MPs protest arrest of Indian fishermen by Sri Lanka

Opposition MPs staged a protest in the Parliament complex on Friday, demanding a permanent solution to the recurring arrests of Indian fishermen by Sri Lanka. Led by DMK, Congress and Left party MPs from Tamil Nadu, the demonstration also saw participation from leaders of several other opposition parties, including Derek O’Brien of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Sudama Prasad of CPI(ML) Liberation.

Holding placards with slogans such as “Justice for Tamil Fishermen,” “Bring Back Our Fishermen,” “No More Arrests,” and “Tamil Nadu Fishermen Are Indians,” the MPs voiced their frustration over what they called the government’s inaction on the issue.

DMK MP Tiruchi Siva stressed that the arrests of Tamil fishermen were not just a regional issue but a national concern, as Indian citizens were being mistreated by a foreign country. “For years, our fishermen have been tortured, harassed and even killed, yet the government has failed to take concrete steps to resolve this crisis,” he said. “Earlier, Sri Lankan authorities used to assault them and seize their catch, but now they have started using weapons to shoot these poor fishermen,” he added. Siva claimed that fear of arrest and violence had left many fishermen too afraid to venture out to sea, threatening their livelihoods. He also mentioned a proposal to include Tamil Nadu’s fishermen in the Scheduled Tribe category to extend greater protection and benefits to the community.

DMK MP Kanimozhi highlighted that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin had repeatedly written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, urging them to find a long-term solution. “The Sri Lankan Navy has been arresting and harassing Tamil Nadu’s fishermen. Nearly 97 fishermen have been arrested,” she said.

She further pointed out that Sri Lankan authorities had confiscated and nationalised nearly 200 boats, leaving fishermen without the means to earn a living. “The Centre has not done anything to address this crisis. We demand that the fishermen be released, their boats returned and that a permanent solution be found,” the Lok Sabha MP said.

Congress MP Manickam Tagore also called on the Centre to intervene and initiate diplomatic discussions with the Sri Lankan government. He emphasised that the ongoing arrests were destroying the livelihoods of thousands of Indian fishermen and needed urgent attention from the highest levels of government.

Despite repeated appeals from Tamil Nadu leaders and opposition MPs, the issue remains unresolved, leaving fishermen vulnerable to arrests, loss of equipment and even violent encounters at sea. The opposition has vowed to continue pressing the government until concrete action is taken.