Lok Sabha Debates
Need To Retrieve Katchatheevu Island From Srilanka. on 21 July, 2016
Sixteenth Loksabha an> Title: Need to retrieve Katchatheevu island from Srilanka.
DR. J. JAYAVARDHAN (CHENNAI SOUTH): Hon. Speaker, the Sri Lankan Government continues to infringe upon the historically enjoyed rights of our fishermen to fish in the traditional waters of the Palk Bay. The Sri Lankan Navy has escalated the frequency and magnitude of incidents of abduction of our fishermen and seizure of boats and fishing equipments, which are going on undeterred in recent days. Our hon. Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Puratchi Thalaiva Amma had requested the hon. Prime Minister to direct the Ministry of External Affairs to take up this matter with the concerned authorities in Sri Lanka and bring an immediate halt to the apprehension of Tamil Nadu fishermen, and ensure immediate release of precarious boats, which continue to suffer great damage, and secure the immediate release of our 77 fishermen and 102 fishing boats. Unabated apprehension of Tamil Nadu fishermen and seizure of their fishing boats should be brought to an end. Our Katchatheevu Island should be retrieved, which would resolve this vexatious issue.
HON. SPEAKER:
Shri Bhairon Prasad Mishra and Shrimati V. Sathyabama are permitted to associate with the issue raised by Dr. J. Jayavardhan. Hon. Members, you can take one or two minutes only. I will not allow you to read the whole thing. You have to raise the issue. That is all.