The Hindu : Jaswant Singh's assurance

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 05, 2003

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Jaswant Singh's assurance

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI MARCH 4. India will be taking up the issue of detention of Tamil fishermen and seizure of the boats by the Sri Lankan authorities in order to secure their release at the earliest.

The assurance was given by the Finance Minister, Jaswant Singh, in the Rajya Sabha after DMK and AIADMK MPs raised the matter during zero hour.

The Minister said the Government had taken up the matter with Sri Lanka even earlier and considered the issue an important aspect of Indo-Sri Lanka ties as also of the fishing rights in territorial waters.

S. Viduthalai Virumbi (DMK) said his party chief, Karunanidhi, had also written to the Prime Minister on the subject urging the Centre to take action.

He said that in the latest incident, 12 boats were attacked and a dozen fishermen along with their boats were taken into custody by Sri Lankan authorities.

P.G. Narayanan (AIADMK) said the Tamil Nadu Government had taken all possible steps and was in touch with the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka to ensure the fishermen's safe return to the State. He said such attacks took place regularly.

He also demanded that the Government take back Kachchathivu which was handed over to Sri Lanka under a `dubious treaty without consulting the people of Tamil Nadu,'' and solve the problem being faced by Indian fisherman.

B.S. Gnanadesikan (TMC) said fishermen in all coastal areas were facing the problems. He said the Coast Guard should be asked to protect Indian fishermen both from the Sri Lankan Navy and their fishermen. He also requested the Government to take up with Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka the issue of Indian fishermen were languishing in their jails and take steps to release them.

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