Arrest of Tamil Nadu political hardliners hailed

by P. Krishnaswamy

While welcoming the recent arrest of political hardliners in Tamil Nadu who tried to reach the Kachchativu island to hoist the Indian flag, Deputy Minister of External Affairs Neomal Perera said that the prompt action taken had averted any likely confrontation between the intruders and the Northern fishermen.

In the event of such an intrusion the reaction of the Northern fishermen could have been adverse since they are already in distress due to the continuous poaching by South Indian fishermen, Perera said.

The Kachchativu island was handed over to Sri Lanka by the then Indian Premier Indira Gandhi as it is in Sri Lankan territory, he said.

The law should take its course whenever challenges are posed to the country’s territorial integrity, he said.