New Delhi (India): Congress MP Vijay Vasanth on Monday moved an adjournment motion notice in the Lok Sabha to discuss the detention of Tamil Nadu fishermen by Sri Lankan authorities. Vasanth, the Congress MP from Kanyakumari, highlighted the increasing number of fishermen apprehended by Sri Lanka, noting that in 2024 alone, 350 fishermen and 49 fishing boats have been detained, the highest in the last six years.
“This issue is severely impacting the livelihoods of over 11 lakh people involved in fishing across Tamil Nadu. The fisherfolk, spread across more than 608 marine fishing villages in the state, rely on fishing as their primary means of income,” Vasanth stated in his motion. He called for urgent government action to address this problem, emphasizing the need for a renegotiation of maritime boundaries to allow fishermen from both India and Sri Lanka to fish without fear of detention.
The Congress MP also called for a revision of the 1974 Indo-Sri Lankan Agreement to clarify maritime boundaries and prevent encroachments, ensuring that fishermen from both nations can operate without harassment. He advocated for promoting sustainable fishing practices to minimize boundary violations and protect marine resources, and proposed forming a joint committee between India and Sri Lanka to expedite the release of detained fishermen.
Vasanth further urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to raise the issue during the Sri Lankan President’s visit, demanding the immediate release of all detained fishermen, their boats, and belongings. He stressed that fishermen from Tamil Nadu’s coastal regions, including Kanniyakumari, Tuticorin, Tirunelveli, and Rameswaram, must not be harassed or detained by Sri Lankan authorities.
In addition to Vasanth’s motion, Congress MP Manickam Tagore also moved an adjournment motion notice on Monday, seeking to discuss the removal of a 1971 war photograph from the Army Headquarters in New Delhi and the broader implications of the act.
The winter session of Parliament, which commenced on November 25, has witnessed frequent disruptions, and is scheduled to continue until December 20.