Chennai, 7 August

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has urged External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to intervene diplomatically after 14 Indian fishermen were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy on 6 August. In a strongly worded letter, Stalin called for immediate action to secure their release, stressing that this is the 17th such incident in 2025, taking the total number of Indian fishermen held by Sri Lanka to 80, with 237 boats also impounded.

The arrested fishermen, who were reportedly fishing in traditional waters near Katchatheevu, were intercepted early in the morning and taken into custody along with one mechanised fishing boat and a country boat. Stalin condemned the repeated arrests and said Tamil fishermen are losing both their freedom and livelihood.

This fresh appeal comes amid renewed political focus on the Katchatheevu island issue, which Tamil Nadu ceded to Sri Lanka in 1974. Stalin reiterated his earlier demand for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to personally intervene and retrieve Katchatheevu, calling it a key step in protecting Indian fishermen’s rights.

While some fishermen may knowingly or unknowingly cross into Sri Lankan waters, many argue that declining fish stocks in Indian waters leave them with little choice. In this context, experts and stakeholders have proposed a long-term lease agreement between India and Sri Lanka, allowing Indian fishermen to fish legally in Sri Lankan waters.

As elections approach, the issue continues to stir political tensions, with the BJP blaming the Congress-DMK alliance for the island's cession and the DMK accusing the BJP-led Centre of inaction.