Fisheries Minister Anita Radhakrishnan today met the Union Minister of External Affairs to demand the immediate release of the Tamil Nadu fishermen and their boats arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy.
The Sri Lankan Navy is arresting Tamil Nadu fishermen who are fishing within the Indian waters and confiscating their boats on the grounds of cross-border fishing. A fisherman from Rameswaram died in a collision with a Sri Lankan Navy ship a few days ago. In this situation yesterday, the Sri Lankan Navy captured 22 fishermen from Tuticorin and their 2 boats who were fishing near Nedundivu. This has caused shock among Tamil Nadu fishermen.
In this case, Union External Affairs Minister Jaishankar and Fisheries Minister Anitha Radhakrishnan are going to meet in person today to urge the Tamil Nadu fishermen and their boats arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy to be immediately released. In this regard, Minister Anita Radhakrishnan left for Delhi yesterday evening. As of now 80 fishermen and 173 fishing boats are under the control of the Sri Lankan authorities, during this meeting he urges to take immediate action to release the Tamil Nadu fishermen and their boats.
He also informed that the capture of the fishermen has severely affected their livelihood and caused great grief to their families. Minister Anita Radhakrishnan is going to insist that the Ministry of External Affairs should immediately take strong and coordinated efforts in the issue of fishermen and ensure the immediate release of all the fishermen and fishing boats in the possession of Sri Lanka and speed up appropriate diplomatic activities in this regard.
