Chennai. Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), led by actor-director Seeman, is planning a massive agitation across the state demanding refugee status for Sri Lankan Tamils. In a statement on Monday, Seeman said the party would organize protest marches and other public events across the state to highlight the issue.
Speaking to -AnyTV News, Tamil Nadu Minister Gingee Mastan said that the Tamil Nadu government is taking care of the refugees who arrived at the Mandapam camp. Further action will be taken based on the instructions of the Central Government.
Several organizations have entered the Mandapam refugee camp, where the first batch of 16 Sri Lankan refugees are kept. MDMKA leader and MP Vaiko, NTK leader Seeman and VCK leader and MP Thol Thirumalvalavan reached the mandapam and interacted with several families who reached the state.
However, the state police, including the Tamil Nadu Marine Police, are strictly monitoring the coastline to prevent any illegal flow into the state borders. The Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department has directed fishermen to watch out for any boat movement from Sri Lanka into Indian territory as the first batch of refugees who reached Ramanathapuram told police that they had paid a hefty amount to reach Indian shores.
During the earlier civil war in Sri Lanka, over 1 lakh Sri Lankan Tamils have reached Tamil Nadu and are living in 107 camps across the state.
Sri Lanka is grappling with a financial crisis, and the possibility of more refugees reaching Indian shores cannot be ruled out. Intelligence agencies have feared an increase in the prospects of large numbers of refugees in India, especially in Tamil Nadu.
—AnyTV News
read this also – Click to read the news of your state / city before the newspaper