Rajya Sabha MPs seek government intervention to get fishermen released

Members in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday sought government intervention in ensuring the release of a large number of Indian fishermen, arrested by the Sri Lankan navy in the recent past.

Vijila Sathyananth (AIADMK) raised the issue of arrest of fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy, blaming it for infringing upon rights of Indian fishermen.

She said four fishermen were arrested on July 15 and asked the Centre to ensure their immediate release and sought immediate intervention of the Ministry of External Affairs to secure their release as well as that of their fishing boats.

Tiruchi Siva (DMK) also raised the issue of "atrocities" on fishermen by Sri Lankan navy, saying 76 fishermen have been arrested in the recent past.

He alleged that the Lankan navy had manhandled fishermen and damaged their boats even in Indian waters.

Stressing that fishermen have been rendered "totally out of profession", Siva sought immediate release of 76 fishermen and 102 fishing boats.

P Bhattacharya (Cong) raised the issue of neglect of historic National Musuem at Kolkata and complained that the Centre was not paying enough attention to the library. He said senior posts at the library are lying vacant and the post of Director there has been vacant for long time.

He urged the central government to ensure that such an old and historic library is run properly.

Rajani Patil (Cong) raised the issue of brutal rape and killing of a 14-year old Kabaddi player in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra and demand stringent punishment for the accused.

"The fear of law has to be established in minds of criminals," she said.

Husain Dalwai (Cong) demanded a House Committee to investigate the incident.

Ananda Bhaskar Rapuolu (Cong) demanded powers to the state government to categorise Scheduled Castes (SC) for reservation in jobs and education.