Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to satate :-

(a) whether the Prime Minister had received a letter from Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu urging his personal intervention and to secure the immediate release of the 86 fishermen from Tamil Nadu and 42 fishing boats in Sri Lankan custody, at the earliest, if so, the measures taken by the Government in this regard; and
(b) the concrete measures taken by the Union Government to safeguard the Indian fishermen from the indiscreet attacks by Sri Lankan Navy?

ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI E. AHAMED)

(a) Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has written a letter to Prime Minister on 6.11.2013 urging personal intervention and to secure immediate release of the 86 fishermen from Tamil Nadu and 42 fishing boats in Sri Lankan custody. The Government has worked assiduously to secure the release of Indian fishermen who happen to be apprehended by Sri Lankan authorities on charges of fishing in Sri Lankan waters.

(b) Government attaches the highest priority to the safety, security and welfare of Indian fishermen and is continuously engaged with the Government of Sri Lanka for securing expeditious release of Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan custody. In this context, reports of alleged attacks on Indian fishermen are immediately and consistently taken up with the Government of Sri Lanka through diplomatic channels and during bilateral meetings at various levels.

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