At this time, the media reported that thirty fishermen from the Thazhanguda village of Cuddalore District were assaulted by our own Indian Navy personnel. The statement made by the Superintendent of Police of Cuddalore District about this incident was not only shocking but also a reflection of the current line of thinking of those wielding power. He claimed that the fishermen had gone up to 20 nautical miles for fishing, while the permitted distance was only 12 nautical miles. Which law prohibits fishermen from fishing beyond 12 nautical miles? Which law has been violated by them?

Karunanidhi possibly wanted to initiate a wider dialogue about this Bill. However, the Superintendent of Police, Cuddalore District, although under the control of Karunanidhi, expressed a view that was seemingly contrary to the views of Karunanidhi. From this, it is quite obvious that Karunanidhi is indirectly in favour of the proposed Bill of the Central Government.

It is the proposed Marine Fisheries (Regulation and Management) Act that seeks to restrict the rights of traditional fishermen to within 12 nautical miles. This law is an overt attempt to trample upon the traditional fishermen while opening up India’s rich exclusive economic zone to powerful foreign fishing trawlers and to big indigenous players. The law even allows for docking facilities for such vessels while treating our own fishing community as second class citizens who require numerous documents like passes, identity cards and licences to fish in waters which have traditionally been their’s.

The ruling Congress Government has not given its response to the widespread opposition to the proposed Bill. By writing a letter to the Union Minister Karunanidhi thinks that his duty is over.

However, after seeing the massive procession of the Tamil Nadu fishermen and sensing the mood of the people and fearing that they would definitely vote against the DMK during the ensuing by-elections in Tamil Nadu, Karunanidhi asked Dayanithi Maran to meet the Union Minister of Agriculture Shri Sharad Pawar forthwith. Accordingly, a meeting was arranged yesterday. After this meeting, Dayanithi Maran met the Media and informed them that Shri Sharad Pawar had assured him that this Bill would not be introduced in the current session of Parliament. This is an act of deception. The stand of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam is that this Bill should not be introduced at all, now or at any time in the future.

Hence, to condemn the Central Government which is going to introduce the Bill in Parliament later, and also to condemn the minority DMK Government which is extending its support indirectly, a Massive Condemnatory Demonstration will be conducted in New Delhi at 10.00 A.M. on 18.12.2009, by the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.

This Condemnatory Demonstration will be conducted under the chairmanship of former Minister of Law and Fisheries, Government of Tamil Nadu and All World MGR Manram Secretary Thiru D. Jayakumar, MLA, in the presence of former Minister of Fisheries and Party Fisheries’ Wing Secretary Thiru K. Kalaimani and Deputy Leader of the AIADMK Parliamentary Party and Party Medical Wing President Dr. V. Maitreyan, M.P.

All Members of Parliament of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, office bearers and party cadres belonging to the AIADMK Fishermen’s Wing will participate in this demonstration.