A team of 15 Tamil Nadu fishermen stranded in war-torn Iran has returned safely to Chennai. Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party president welcomed them at the airport. Addressing reporters, Tamil Nadu BJP President Nainar Nagendran said, "On getting word of their condition, I immediately spoke with the External Affairs Minister." He added further, "Emergency food packets were arranged for the fisherman. Efforts are also in the process to rescue more fishermen from another island."
The president also clarified that the fishermen, from the coastal villages of Sivagangai and Uvari areas, had gone to Iran for deep-sea fishing. But since there was growing tension in the area, they could not carry on working and wanted to return.
Since direct flights from Iran were not possible, the fishermen came to Dubai by boat and, from there, flew to Delhi before finally reaching Chennai.
Nainar Nagendra thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Ministry of External Affairs for the rescue arrangement. The operation was entirely paid for by the Tamil Nadu BJP.
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Ajith, a fisherman from Uvari, thanked the BJP for their return. "As tensions between wars, we could not toil away and were finding it hard even to get food. We contacted Nainar Nagendran, and he organised our return," he said.
Talking of difficulties, from Tirunelveli explained that they had remained stranded on the boat since June 13. "The war zone was intense. We required GPS gear to fish, but it was not given. Our boat owner did nothing to assist. We were left stranded on the boat since June 13. Nobody else came to save us except Nainar Nagendran, who reacted within a week of our appeal."
He further said, "We have not received any wages, and the trauma remains. Seeing my wife and children will help me recover. He saved us like a god."
One of the fishers, Anto, recounting his experience, said, "We traveled to Iran in February, but the environment tensed up and we couldn't go fishing for two months. We told the BJP leadership, and they arranged food and accommodation. Tamil Nadu government representatives never contacted us. All 15 members of our group are now here, though another group on another island is still stranded."
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