Madurai, Feb. 19 -- Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MDMK chief Vaiko accused the Union government of treating Tamil Nadu fishermen as "second-rate citizens" and demanded firm action against Sri Lanka over repeated arrests and attacks at sea.

Addressing a press conference in Madurai, Vaiko said, "The Union Govt of India is treating our fishermen as second-rate citizens. I condemn the Union government for this step-motherly treatment. The fishermen are also citizens of India, but the govt is betraying them. If Sri Lanka is served a strong warning, then they will not capture our fishermen & their boats."

He alleged that for over four decades, Tamil Nadu fishermen have faced arrests, firing and seizure of boats by the Sri Lankan Navy...