SL should stop arrests: Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan

Addressing reporters at the Thoothukudi airport, Pon Radhakrishnan said that to solve the ongoing problems faced by fishermen, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is working towards a permanent solution and that is deep sea fishing. The vessels for deep sea fishing are being made at the Cochin Ship Building Yard. Actually, some of the fishermen have directly gone to see the ship building process in the yard at Cochin, he said.

He explained that the new initiative has been proposed by the Modi government and it was not in vogue which the previous governments. “Indians are lucky to have Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister. He has been handling the fishermen issue with a lot of interest and care. He has taken it up in a serious way with his Sri Lankan counterpart.

Even the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, pays direct attention to the fishermen issue and treats it with care. He further said that pressure, at all possible levels, has been given to the Sri Lankan government and hoped that a definite action would be taken soon. However, the minister said that he is pained at the frequent arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen. “I hope the Lankan Navy stops arresting Indian fishermen till a solution is arrived at between the two countries,” said Pon Radhakrishnan.

When asked about the recent firing incident of the Indian Coast Guard on Rameswaram fishermen, he replied that Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had already spoken on the issue and he has nothing more to say.