CM Stalin urges Centre to secure release of 12 Indian fishermen held by Sri Lankan Navy
Chennai (Tamil Nadu), July 4: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Monday reached out to External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar and requested him to take appropriate action for the immediate release of 12 Indian fishermen arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy.
The Chief Minister stated in a letter to EAM, "This arrest intimidates the fisherfolk of Tamil Nadu and is also likely to create a sense of insecurity and fear in the coastal areas of the State. I, therefore, request you to take up this matter through appropriate diplomatic channels to secure the immediate release of 12 fishermen and their fishing boat."
Seven of the 12 arrested Indian fishermen are from Tamil Nadu, while five are from Puducherry.
He further stated that Tamil Nadu fishermen had recently resumed fishing after a 61-day yearly ban that concluded on June 15, 2022.
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The fifth meeting of the India-Sri Lanka Joint Working Group on Fisheries was held virtually on March 25, this year.
The Joint Working Group thoroughly reviewed all relevant issues, including concerns about fishermen and fishing boats that have been on the agenda of bilateral talks between India and Sri Lanka for many years.
The Indian side stated its willingness to collaborate with Sri Lanka on joint research to increase the productivity of the Palk Bay fisheries.
The meeting concluded on a positive note, with a commitment to ongoing collaboration and dialogue to resolve fishermen-related issues and to hold the next Joint Working Group meeting on time.
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-PTC News
