Nagapattinam:
BJP would study in detail the issue of retrieving Katchatheevu, ceded to Sri Lanka by India in 1974, and then raise it in Parliament, senior party leader Sushma Swaraj said today.
"I will study the issue in detail, discuss it with our party leaders and then raise it in Parliament," the Opposition leader in the Lok Sabha told a gathering of fishermen at Pushpavanam fishing hamlet in the district.
Accompanied by Tamil Nadu BJP leaders, Swaraj visited the hamlet to console family members of Jayakumar, a fisherman who was allegedly killed by the Lankan Navy a fortnight ago.
She also handed over a cheque of Rs two lakh to the victim's wife.
A visibly moved Swaraj said the "small amount" was just a token of solidarity. Though nothing could bring the deceased to life, the financial assistance could be of use for educating the children, she said.
The family members appealed to her to take steps to prevent such attacks in future. "What happened to my husband should not happen to anyone else," Murugeswari said.
Fishermen associations alleged that more than 500 of their men had been killed by the Lankan Navy and over 2,000 sustained injuries during the past two decades.
Indian fishermen cross the international maritime boundary line (IMBL) unintentionally due to inclement weather, mechanical problems in boat and other issues, they said to the BJP leader.
"When we stray into Sri Lankan waters, the Lankan Navy fires at us. The Lankan authorities should only take legal action," they said.
The fishermen told Swaraj that retrieving Katchatheevu from Sri Lanka was the only solution to end their sufferings.
Swaraj assured them that she would fight for their cause at all forums. "The BJP does not have representation in Parliament from Tamil Nadu. But, I will act like a Tamil Nadu MP and voice for the safety and security of fishermen."
Later, when asked if Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao's recent meeting with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on this issue will have any positive effect, Swaraj hoped that the government there will reflect on this sincerely.
"The Lankan President has also accepted that killing of fishermen is not the solution. Let us hope for the best from them," she said.
"I will study the issue in detail, discuss it with our party leaders and then raise it in Parliament," the Opposition leader in the Lok Sabha told a gathering of fishermen at Pushpavanam fishing hamlet in the district.
Accompanied by Tamil Nadu BJP leaders, Swaraj visited the hamlet to console family members of Jayakumar, a fisherman who was allegedly killed by the Lankan Navy a fortnight ago.
She also handed over a cheque of Rs two lakh to the victim's wife.
A visibly moved Swaraj said the "small amount" was just a token of solidarity. Though nothing could bring the deceased to life, the financial assistance could be of use for educating the children, she said.
The family members appealed to her to take steps to prevent such attacks in future. "What happened to my husband should not happen to anyone else," Murugeswari said.
Fishermen associations alleged that more than 500 of their men had been killed by the Lankan Navy and over 2,000 sustained injuries during the past two decades.
Indian fishermen cross the international maritime boundary line (IMBL) unintentionally due to inclement weather, mechanical problems in boat and other issues, they said to the BJP leader.
"When we stray into Sri Lankan waters, the Lankan Navy fires at us. The Lankan authorities should only take legal action," they said.
The fishermen told Swaraj that retrieving Katchatheevu from Sri Lanka was the only solution to end their sufferings.
Swaraj assured them that she would fight for their cause at all forums. "The BJP does not have representation in Parliament from Tamil Nadu. But, I will act like a Tamil Nadu MP and voice for the safety and security of fishermen."
Later, when asked if Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao's recent meeting with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on this issue will have any positive effect, Swaraj hoped that the government there will reflect on this sincerely.
"The Lankan President has also accepted that killing of fishermen is not the solution. Let us hope for the best from them," she said.
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