DMK, AIADMK members clash in RS over Tamil fishermen issue

Members from various political parties in Tamil Nadu today expressed concern in Rajya Sabha over arrest of Tamil fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy, an issue that saw a clash between DMK and AIADMK members.
With Prime Minister Narendra Modi present when the issue was being raised, there was a demand from members belonging to DMK, CPI-M and CPI that he should respond to their concern.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, T Siva (DMK) said that despite the issue having been raised in Parliament several times, it continues to happen regularly and it seems raising the matter in the House has become a "futile exercise".

He said that he was highlighting the issue in the House for the second time within 15 days as 40 fishermen of Tamil Nadu were arrested by Sri Lankan Navy in November and 38 are languishing in jails there.
Holding that the International Maritime Boundary Line between India and Sri Lanka (IMBL) and the issue of Kachchatheevu are "not settled", Siva urged the government to "first retrieve Kachchatheevu".
Replying to a Calling Attention Motion on Tamil fishermen issue in Lok Sabha, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had on Wednesday said that a proposal involving the development of a National AIS (Automatic Identification System) Network for effective tacking of small fishing vessels fitted with customised AIS transponders and having early warning system on International Maritime Boundary Line is being explored for the safety and security of the fishermen.

Siva said there is dismay and despair in the minds of Tamils in the state and alleged that be it UPA or NDA, they are "totally neglecting" Tamil Nadu as he demanded a response from the government.