Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has written to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, urging him to take up the issue of Indian fishermen who have been arrested by Sri Lankan authorities. This comes ahead of the official visit of Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to India.
In his letter, Rahul Gandhi expressed deep concern about the Indian fishermen currently incarcerated in Sri Lankan jails. He highlighted the ongoing hardship faced by these fisherfolk, who have not only lost their freedom but also their livelihoods due to the impounding of their fishing vessels by Sri Lankan authorities.
“As we prepare to host the Sri Lankan President on his first official visit to India, I request the Indian government to kindly take up the persistent issue of the Indian fisherfolk who accidentally cross the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and ensure their early release,” Gandhi wrote.
The Congress leader also urged the Indian government to intervene and waive the fines imposed on the arrested fishermen. He further requested that the government push for the release of the impounded fishing vessels. Gandhi emphasized the importance of ensuring that inter-governmental mechanisms like the Joint Working Group between India and Sri Lanka meet regularly to address such issues and find lasting solutions.
Gandhi’s appeal comes at a time when the issue of fishermen crossing the IMBL and subsequent arrests by Sri Lankan authorities has remained a sensitive and recurring diplomatic issue. The Congress leader’s letter underscores the urgency of addressing the grievances of Indian fisherfolk, particularly in the context of the ongoing diplomatic engagement between India and Sri Lanka.
