Chennai: Noting that the fishermen should be giÂven all protection by the state and the Centre, Union Shipping Minister G.K. Vasan said that there is no politics involved in protecting their livelihood.
Talking to reporters after commissioning the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) ship Rajdhwaj at Chennai Port on WedÂnesday, Vasan said that the external affairs ministry has been taking steps for facilitating talks throÂugh the diplomatic channel between the two countries to find a positive result for the fishermen.
Condemning the frequent attacks by the Lankan Navy, the shipping minister said that there should be a full stop to the problems of fishermen as their livelihood is affected. “Fishermen are our country’s assets and we need to respect their work. It is the responsibility of the state and the Centre to protect them,” he added. On the Sri Lankan fishermen entering Indian waters, the shipping minister said that out of the total 359 foreign fishermen and 61 ships apprehended by the ICG in 2013, 275 fishermen and 51 ships belong to Sri Lanka.
On the piracy issue, Vasan said that due to resolute but discrete efforts by the Indian government, 335 sailors have been released from the captivity of pirates since 2007. “We are taking sustained efforts to release the remaining eight sailors from captivity,” he said. “The Indian Navy has been proactive in dealing with pirates and they have so far apprehended more than 120 Somali pirates, who are currently facing trial in the appropriate courts of law,” he added.
Referring to the recent riot in SingÂapÂore, Vasan said that he would imÂÂpress upon the external affairs miÂniÂstry to ensure that Tamils live peacefully there.
ICG director general Vice Admiral Anurag G. Thapliyal said that inshore patrol vessel Rajdhwaj is the eighth such unit designed and built by GarÂden Reach Shipbuilders Engineers in Kolkata. The vessel to be stationed at Kakinada is expected to enhance the coast guard’s capability in maritime security, environmental protection on the eastern seaboard.
