Chennai: Naam Tamilar Katchi chief Seeman on Thursday condemned the arrest of Sri Lankan Tamil nationals who illegally entered India amid the ongoing economic crisis in the island nation. He said that the Centre should provide asylum to the Sri Lankan refugees as they did for Tibetans.
In a press release on Thursday, Seeman said, "It is disheartening to see Sri Lankan Tamils put to suffer due to the economic crisis even after they faced several years of suffering as a result of civil war and suppression due to ethnicity."
Also Read | First Question Is Amount Of Water The Reservoir Can Withstand: Supreme Court On Mullaperiyar Dam Issue
"In this backdrop, Tamil Nadu government is further increasing their suffering by slapping cases against Sri Lankan Tamil nationals who enter Tamil Nadu. They are also separating women and their children and lodge them in prison and camps. This act of the government is condemnable," he said.
Further, Seeman said, the Centre and state governments should provide asylum to Sri Lankan Tamils as they did for Tibetans.
Also Read | Tamil Nadu Woman Abducted & Gang-Raped While Returning From Night Show Movie With Friend In Vellore, 4 Held
On Tuesday, India Coast Guard apprehended six Sri Lankan nationals including three children from Rameswaram and 10 others who arrived in another batch amid intensifying economic crisis in Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, in the worst economic meltdown, three people have died in Sri Lanka while they were waiting in queues to get fuel on Saturday. The prices of essentials commodities including milk have skyrocketed to an all-time high. There is also an extreme food shortage forcing thousands of people to flee the country.