Lok Sabha Debates
Need To Impress Upon Srilankan Government To Release Indian Fishermen. on 20 March, 2017
Sixteenth Loksabha an> Title: Need to impress upon Srilankan Government to release Indian fishermen.
SHRI A. ANWHAR RAAJHAA (RAMANATHAPURAM): Thank you Deputy Speaker Sir.
I wish to raise a very important issue regarding the pitiable condition of the fishermen in Tamil Nadu, mainly in my Ramanathapuram constituency.
Sir, a young fishermen Bridgo, resident of Thangachimadam, was shot dead by Sri Lankan Navy on 6th March, 2017. The Tamil Nadu Government strongly condemned the killing and announced a compensation of five lakh rupees to the deceased family and one lakh rupees to another fisherman who was seriously injured.
The Sri Lankan Government is continuously ignoring the 1974 agreement and all the agreements of the maritime boundaries settled between the two countries.
Recently, in a meeting between India and Sri Lanka, a joint action group was formed which assured resolving all issues of fishermen from both countries meeting every three months. This was also overruled by Sri Lankan Navy resulting in the death of a young fisherman Bridgo.
In this regard, I urge the Union Government to take the following steps for the welfare of fisherman.
The Centre should take necessary steps to release all the fishing boats seized by Sri Lankan Navy till date.
The Centre should announce funds for the deceased fishermen families. Indian Navy and Coast Guard stationed near Rameshwaram should protect our fisherman from the brutal attack of Sri Lankan Navy.
Our hon. former Chief Minister Amma has suggested two solutions for resolving the issue permanently. One is the retrieval of Katchatheevu and the second is to encourage deep sea fishing. For this, the Union Government has to sanction Rs. 1,520 crore to encourage deep sea fishing, which is pending with the Centre for a very long time.
Fishermen are fearing to go for fishing. This is a pitiable condition that our fishermen are fearing to go for fishing as they are insecure of the security for their lives. The Centre has to talk seriously with Sri Lanka and give assurance for the security of fishermen lives and make sure that no firing is done in future.
The Centre should urge Sri Lanka for strict legal action against the Sri Lankan Navy official who shot Bridgo, as per the serious steps taken by the previous Union Government on Italian Navy officers who fired Kerala fisherman in 2012.