15 Tamil Nadu Fishermen Return From Iran, Efforts On To Rescue Others
A group of 15 Tamil Nadu fishermen who were stranded in Iran following the Iran-Israel war have returned safely to Chennai. They were received at the Chennai airport by Tamil Nadu BJP President Nainar Nagendran, who later addressed the media regarding the rescue efforts.
Nagendran explained that the fishermen, hailing from coastal villages in Sivagangai and Uvari regions, had travelled to Iran for deep-sea fishing. However, due to rising conflict in the region, they were unable to continue working and expressed their desire to return home.
"Upon receiving information about their situation, I immediately contacted the Minister of External Affairs. Emergency food supplies were arranged for the stranded fishermen on one of the islands. Efforts are also underway to rescue more fishermen from another island," Nagendran said.
Since direct flights from Iran were not feasible, the fishermen were brought to Dubai by ship and, from there, flown to Delhi, eventually reaching Chennai. He expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Ministry of External Affairs for facilitating the rescue. The Tamil Nadu BJP funded the entire operation.
Ajith, a fisherman from Uvari, expressed gratitude to the BJP for bringing them back. "Due to war tensions, we couldn't work and were struggling even for food. We reached out to Nainar Nagendran, and he arranged for our return," he said.
Anto, another fisherman, recalled, "We went to Iran in February, but the situation became tense and we couldn't go fishing for two months. We informed the BJP leadership, and they made arrangements for food and shelter. Tamil Nadu government officials did not reach out to us at all. All 15 of us from our group are now back, though another group on a different island is still stranded."
Mani from Tirunelveli shared the hardships they faced: "The war zone was intense. We needed GPS equipment to fish, but it wasn't provided. Our boat owner offered no help. We remained stranded on the boat since June 13. No one came to rescue us except Nainar Nagendran, who responded within a week of our plea. We haven't received any wages, and the trauma remains. Seeing my wife and children will help me recover. He saved us like a god."
The Tamil Nadu BJP has promised to continue rescue efforts to bring back the remaining fishermen from Iran.
Nagendran also commented on actor Vijay's recent statement about not aligning with any party. "While Vijay now says he prefers to stand alone, the common goal between us and Vijay is that DMK should not remain in power. I had suggested unity based on that shared view," he stated.
"Ever since the BJP and AIADMK reunited under the NDA alliance, DMK leaders have been visibly anxious. That's why they push the 'B-team' narrative. They said the same about TVK Chief Vijay and MNM Chief Kamal Haasan. Now Kamal is with the DMK, even an MP under their banner," he added.
Nagendran reaffirmed that with 10 months still to go before the Assembly elections, political strategies may evolve, and alliances could shift.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
34 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Patel power play as AAP challenges BJP Gujarat citadel
AHMEDABAD: The political battleground in Gujarat is witnessing a renewed churn around the influential Patidar community, with multiple players vying for dominance in this electoral bloc. While the BJP continues to command a grip on the Patel vote bank, bolstered by its top leadership comprising influential Patidar figures, emerging challenges from the AAP and internal lobbying within the Congress are beginning to shift the political discourse. The AAP, under the leadership of Gopal Italia, has stepped up efforts to erode the BJP's dominance in the Patidar belt. Though the Congress has failed to make a lasting dent in the BJP's support among Patels, it is currently witnessing a power tussle within its own state unit. While its Patidar leaders are pushing for a Patel to be appointed as the new state Congress president, a counter-lobby led by the OBC bloc is pressing for an OBC leader to take charge. A political confrontation has turned Morbi into the epicentre of Gujarat's electoral drama. The spark came when BJP MLA Kanti Amrutiya, during a public event, challenged AAP's Gopal Italia to contest elections from his Morbi seat. Amrutiya vowed to resign from the assembly on Monday and even pledged Rs 2 crore to Italia if he managed to win. 'If he has the support of the Patidar community, let him prove it in Morbi,' Amrutiya asserted. Vankaner BJP MLA Jitu Somani threw his weight behind Amrutiya's challenge. 'If Italia wins from Morbi, I will resign from my seat in Vankaner. Let him put in his papers on Monday and enter the ring,' Somani declared. Gopal Italia accepted the challenge in a video response. 'If the BJP MLAs truly resign, I'm ready to contest. One must not go back on their word. I accept this challenge,' Italia expressed.
The Hindu
38 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Punjab BJP holds protests against CM Mann for his remarks against PM Modi
The BJP's Punjab unit on Saturday (July 12, 2025) held demonstrations at many places in the State against Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's remarks criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign visits. The BJP leaders and workers shouted slogans against Mr. Mann and also burnt his effigies. Party leader Tarun Chugh slammed the CM's remarks as "vile and disgraceful". Mr. Chugh said Mr. Mann is "drunk with power and arrogance" to the point where he doesn't even know what he is saying. "He's attacking a Prime Minister who's been elected three times by the people of India with a historic mandate. A leader whose integrity over 25 years of public life is spotless. A leader whose vision is echoing across the world. And Mann has the audacity to mock him," he said. "Dragging Home Minister Amit Shah's name into this reflects Mann's frustration," Mr. Chugh said. "He's the Home Minister who crushed terrorism, dismantled Naxal networks, and strengthened India's internal security. Under his leadership, the BJP became the world's largest political party." Punjab BJP leader Anil Sarin too hit out at Mann, saying the chief minister has forgotten the decorum and dignity of constitutional posts. The kind of language he used against the PM inside and outside of the House cannot be tolerated, said Mr. Sarin. On Thursday, Mr. Mann had criticised Modi for "celebrating" the foreign honour from a country with a population of just 10,000 while "neglecting" the nation's pressing issues. The Ministry of External Affairs had also termed Mann's remarks as "irresponsible". Despite the MEA disapproving of his comments, Mr. Mann on Friday again raked up the issue, this time in the State Assembly, and asked him to "address the concerns" of 140 crore Indians. On MEA's reaction, Mr. Mann asked whether he did not have a right to ask questions about foreign policy. On Thursday, Mr. Mann had said, "Pradhan Mantri ji has gone to Ghana? Has he come back from Ghana? Will he come back today? He will be welcomed upon his return to the country." "... He is not staying in the country where 140 crore people live. The countries that he is visiting have a population of 10,000. And he got the biggest award there. Over here, 10,000 people gather to watch the JCB machine [earth-moving machine]," Mr. Mann had said. Participating in a debate over the resolution against the deployment of CISF personnel at the Bhakra-Nangal project during the second day of the Punjab assembly on Friday, Mr. Mann again said that the Prime Minister has no time to address the concerns of 140 crore Indians but has time to tour abroad. "The MEA has reacted. Don't we have a right to ask the PM about foreign policy? Do the countries that he visits support our nation afterwards? When our relations with Pakistan deteriorated, did any country stand by us?" asked Mr. Mann. "He visits the countries 'Magneshia, Tarveshia, Garveshia' (sic), do not know where these countries are. Pradhan Mantri sahib got the biggest award there. What is the population there? It is 9,500. I said that many people gather just to watch the JCB machine here," Mr. Mann said. Later, while speaking to the media on Friday, Mann again asked, "Don't I have a right to question about the foreign policy that what are you going to do there? What have you done there? Tell us. Don't we have the right?" Mr. Mann also took a dig at Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
New Indian Express
39 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Union Minister Amit Shah calls for Change, says BJP will form govt in Kerala in 2026
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Setting the BJP's poll agenda in the state, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday projected 25% vote share for the saffron party in the upcoming local body election. Addressing party workers in Thiruvananthapuram, Shah trained his guns on Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, and claimed the BJP-led NDA will form government in Kerala in 2026. Highlighting the Centre's contributions to Kerala's infrastructure, Shah said contrary to perception, central allocations to the state have increased. He pointed out that the railway budget allocation for Kerala, which was just Rs 372 crore in 2004, has increased to Rs 3,700 crore under the Modi government. The Union minister was addressing a massive gathering of party workers at Putharikandam ground during the 'Vikasita Keralam' (Developed Kerala) event, which marked a significant show of strength for the BJP in the state. In his speech, Shah lashed out at both the ruling LDF and the Opposition UDF, accusing them of decades of corruption and neglect. 'For real change, Kerala must stop rotating power between the UDF and LDF. Both these fronts focus only on the development of their cadre. Only the BJP can ensure the development of the state,' he said. Energising the crowd of around 30,000 party workers by raising 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' slogan, he took a swipe at CM Pinarayi Vijayan. 'Let our voices be loud enough so that even the chief minister who is abroad hears this powerful gathering,' he said. Shah launched a fierce attack on the LDF and UDF, accusing them of turning Kerala into a hub of corruption and lawlessness. He also drew comparisons between major corruption scandals during their respective tenures. Shah accuses LDF, UDF of betraying public trust, misusing power for gains Shah termed the gold smuggling case as the 'biggest government-sponsored corruption'. 'LDF has been tainted by the cooperative bank scam, Exalogic scam, LIFE Mission scam, K-Fone scam, PPE kit scam, and more,' he said. Shah also questioned the LDF's inaction against the now-banned PFI, saying it was the Modi government that finally cracked down on the outfit.
