As many as 211 Indian fishermen are in Pakistan jails, and 1,172 boats and trawlers are confiscated by the authorities in the neighbouring country, said Union minister of state (external affairs) Kirti Vardhan Singh.In a written reply to a query posed by Mayiladuthurai MP R Sudha in the Lok Sabha, the minister said as per the India-Pakistan Agreement on Consular Access signed on May 21, 2008, lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen of each country lodged in the jails of the other are exchanged on Jan 1 and July 1 of every year. “However, Pakistan does not acknowledge the number of Indian fishing boats in their custody,” he said.
Singh said with respect to Sri Lanka, the external affairs minister during his visit to Sri Lanka in October raised the issues related to fishermen with the new political leadership.
“The issue is also dealt with through bilateral institutional mechanisms such as the regular meetings of the bilateral joint working group (JWG) on fisheries, which includes representatives of the Tamil Nadu govt. The last JWG meeting on fisheries was held on Oct 29. With sustained diplomatic efforts, the govt secured the release and repatriation of 363 fishermen during the current year, with an additional 12 fishermen released and currently in the process of being repatriated,” he said.
He said 141 fishermen were in custody in Sri Lanka, 95 in Bangladesh, 37 in Bahrain, 25 in Saudi Arabia, and four in Qatar. He said 198 boats/trawlers are seized by the Sri Lankan authorities and six by the Bangladeshi authorities.
He said the Union govt gives the highest priority to the safety, security and welfare of Indian fishermen. “The fishermen issue is dealt with in a bilateral manner, and the govt has been taking up the fishermen issues, including the early release and repatriation of Indian fishermen and fishing boats with respective govts through diplomatic channels, various official interactions, and established bilateral mechanisms,” he said.
The Union govt insists on the early release and repatriation of Indian fishermen with respective countries at all levels. The govt has conveyed that the issue may be considered purely on humanitarian and livelihood grounds.
“Further, our missions and consulates in respective countries make regular visits to the local jails and detention centres to ascertain the condition of Indian fishermen and provide requisite help and support, including legal assistance. Our missions provide necessary travel documents to facilitate the repatriation of released fishermen to India,” he said.