Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, discussed with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar the recent arrest of 37 Tamil Nadu fishermen. He requested Jaishankar to address the issue with Sri Lankan authorities in order to secure the prompt release of the Indian fishermen and their boats.
Gandhi wrote to Jaishankar expressing strong condemnation for the repeated incidents of small Indian fisherfolk being detained by Sri Lankan authorities and facing unfair confiscation of their belongings and imposition of heavy fines.
The Congress leader mentioned the detention of 37 Tamil fishermen and their boats by Sri Lankan officials on September 21, 2024, stating that MP R Sudha informed them that the arrested fishermen are small-scale fisherfolk near the coast, and had tried to help a distressed Sri Lankan boat on the day of the incident. He mentioned that even though they reached out to Sri Lankan officials for help during the rescue operation, the fishermen were still arrested for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line.
He also stated that the fishing boats confiscated were communal assets acquired with shared funds. “He mentioned that a copy of Adv. R. Sudha’s representation is attached.”
In his letter to Jaishankar, Gandhi asked for the matter to be addressed with Sri Lankan authorities for the prompt release of the fishermen and their boats.
On Monday, Tamil Chief Minister MK Stalin informed Jaishankar about the detention of 37 Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy and the confiscation of three boats, while requesting assistance for their release.