DMK asks Prime Minister to call meeting on fishermen's arrests

DMK parliamentarians have urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to convene a meeting of ministers, elected leaders and representatives of fishermen of India and Sri Lanka, according to a memorandum released here Thursday.

In the memorandum submitted to Singh in New Delhi Wednesday, the parliamentarians, citing the continued arrests of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lanka navy, requested him to hold a meeting to "arrive at a permanent and comprehensive solution which would be beneficial to fishermen of both the countries".

According to the DMK, the arrests of Indian fishermen by Sri Lanka even after the recent talks between the fishermen representatives of both the countries shows that the steps taken by the central government to protect Indian fishermen have not borne fruit.