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Title: Need to take steps to retrieve Kachatheevu Islet back from Sri Lanka and to stop frequent arrest of Tamil fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy personnel.
*SHRI V. ELUMALAI (ARANI): Hon. Deputy Speaker Sir, vanakkam. I thank Hon. Puratchithalaivi Amma for giving me an opportunity to speak in this august House. Puratchithalavi Amma had a meeting with Hon. Prime Minister on 03.06.2014 and insisted for retrieving Kachaththeevu Islet back from Sri Lanka and to stop frequent arrest of Tamil fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy personnel. But time and again Sri Lankan navy and Government of Sri Lanka are involved in arresting Tamil fishermen. Five Tamil fishermen were arrested in 2011 on charges of drug trafficking and sentenced to death in 2014. Hon. Puratchithalaivi Amma granted Rs.20 lakh for filing an appeal for cancellation of death sentence of those five fishemen from Tamil Nadu. Under the intervention of hon. Prime Minister the fishermen on death row were released. But on 23 November 2014, the very next day after their release, other 14 Tamil fishermen were arrested and are still languishing in Sri Lankan jails. Kachaththeevu islet was given away by mistake to Sri Lanka through agreements of 1974 and 1976. As demanded by people’s Chief Minister Puratchithalaivi Amma during the meeting with hon. Prime Minister on 03.06.2014, annulment of these agreement should take place and Kachaththevu islet should be taken back from Sri Lanka. I urge through this august House to ensure regaining Kachaththeevu islet by Tamil Nadu.      Â
SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY : Sir, I have to place it on record that the five Indian fishermen who were convicted have been released with the intervention of the Government of India. I think it is the result of great cooperation between the two nations and the stand taken by our Prime Minister. It was a great achievement on the part of the country that we could get back those fishermen. I think this point should be flagged for the knowledge of our Members.
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