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T.N. MPs raise issue of fishermen’s arrest

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The arrest of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy was on Wednesday raised in both Houses of Parliament by MPs from Tamil Nadu.

The members, belonging to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), urged the government to take up the matter with Colombo immediately.

Cutting across party lines, they said the issue was hurting the fishermen, who had gone on strike in Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu after the arrest of 20 persons by the Sri Lankan Navy recently.

Raising the issue in the Rajya Sabha, D. Raja (CPI) said the Navy confiscated four boats and over 100 fishermen were reported missing.

Contending that such incidents were taking place frequently, he demanded urgent steps to ensure the safety of fishermen.

New Delhi should take up the matter with Colombo for reopening Katchathivu Island for Indian fishermen. “The Indian government is maintaining a studied silence,” he said.

This was objected to by Jayanthi Natarajan (Congress) who said Mr. Raja was misleading the House. Mr. Raja was supported by the DMK, the AIADMK and the PMK members.

Charge of torture

In the Lok Sabha, DMK member J.K. Ritheesh said the Sri Lankan Navy chased and tortured Indian fishermen, who had stopped fishing to earn their livelihood and resorted to strike.

He said that under the 1974 agreement between India and Sri Lanka, Indian fishermen were permitted to rest and dry their fishing nets in Katchathivu but Colombo was not respecting the agreement. The actor-turned-MP said the matter should be taken up with Sri Lanka and a permanent solution found.

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