The issue of Indian fishermen and the Kachchativu figured recently in the Lok Sabha, where External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar dealt with the issues adequately.
He said since he is a Tamil elected from Gujarat, he was in a dilemma but wanted to give a win-win answer to the issue.
Replying to a member, the minister said that there was no stepmotherly treatment for fishermen from Gujarat or Tamil Nadu. In fact, all were treated alike with fatherly care. The minister then cited the figures of the fishermen and explained how the authorities were involved in securing their release. According to the minister, Pakistan has apprehended and released 2165 fishermen since 2014, while Sri Lanka has released 2835 fishermen. Noting this, he stated that if there is one leader, one prime minister, who has paid attention to the Tamil problems, it is Prime Minister Narendra Modi.He also said there is a joint mechanism in place with Sri Lanka to resolve the issue of fishermen.
In reply to Dr Sumathi, the minister said I have referred to the Sri Lankan fishing issue; she had also brought up Kachchativu and expressed concerns regarding Kachchativu.
This is still pending, but I would urge the member, when she raises the Kachchativu issue, not to look at this side because I don’t think the issue started from this side of the House. Her party has also served in government, as has the party that initiated the Kachchativu issue.
