Bhavani, Erode — Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) leader G.K. Vasan on Tuesday urged the Tamil Nadu government to take prompt steps to secure the release of seven fishing boats belonging to fishermen from the State that were confiscated by officials of the Andhra Pradesh government on June 16.
Vasan seeks talks between the two States
Speaking to reporters in Bhavani, Mr. Vasan said the boats have not been released so far and the detentions have adversely affected the livelihood of the fishermen concerned. He called on the State government to enter into talks with its counterpart in Andhra Pradesh to arrive at a durable arrangement that would not impinge on the livelihood of Tamil Nadu fishermen.
“The Tamil Nadu government should hold talks with the Andhra Pradesh government to find a durable solution that would not affect the livelihood of fishermen from Tamil Nadu,”
Mr. Vasan, a former Union Minister, framed the demand as an urgent welfare and inter‑state coordination issue rather than a narrower political point. He did not provide further details about the exact location of seizure, the names of the fishermen or the current status of the boats beyond saying they remained unreleased.
Wider state concerns and demands
At the regional meeting of TMC(M) presidents from nine districts that he was attending in Bhavani, Mr. Vasan raised additional issues he said the State government should address. These included convening an all‑party meeting on the contentious Cauvery water issue and pressing the Centre and the State to pursue river‑linking proposals mentioned by the Chief Minister.
He welcomed the State government’s decision to approach the Supreme Court to secure Tamil Nadu’s share of Cauvery water and urged the DMK to articulate the State’s concerns robustly in Parliament on the proposed delimitation of constituencies.
Local governance and farmer welfare
Mr. Vasan also called for administrative action on several local welfare matters:
- Provide immediate electricity connections to the 50,000 farmers who had applied under the Tatkal scheme.
- Ensure that students receive education loans in full.
- Increase Aavin’s milk procurement price to benefit dairy farmers.
- Press the Centre to consider linking the Godavari, Cauvery and Gundar rivers as requested by the Chief Minister.
| Issue | Demand |
|---|---|
| Seized fishing boats | Talks with Andhra Pradesh to secure release |
| Cauvery water | All‑party meeting; Supreme Court petition supported |
| Farmer electricity connections | Immediate Tatkal connections for 50,000 applicants |
| Education loans | Release loans in full |
| Aavin milk price | Increase procurement price |
Party organisation and electoral focus
Addressing party functionaries, Mr. Vasan said TMC(M) was working to strengthen its organisation in weaker areas ahead of the forthcoming local body elections and to identify constituencies where the party had good prospects. He added that the Congress and like‑minded parties had begun cooperating at both the national and State levels.
Mr. Vasan did not specify a timeline for talks with Andhra Pradesh or outline a legal or diplomatic route that the State government should adopt to secure the fishermen’s boats. He reiterated the need for a "durable solution" to prevent recurrence of such incidents and protect the fishing community’s livelihood.
The seizure of fishing vessels in inter‑State waters has been a recurring source of tension between coastal States in south India, often prompting calls for clearer protocols and improved coordination. In this instance, Mr. Vasan’s appeal places renewed focus on the immediate welfare of affected fishermen while linking the matter to broader water and rural welfare concerns in Tamil Nadu.
Published — August 11, 2026
