External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to meet delegation of fishermen

CHENNAI: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will tomorrow meet fishermen representatives accompanied by Tamil Nadu BJP leaders, her cabinet colleague Pon Radhakrishnan said here today.

The Minister of State for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan said that the meeting would discuss the issue of releasing Indian fishermen arrested by Sri Lanka, besides their boats held by that country.

Recalling 'useful discussions' between fishermen representatives and Swaraj in August this year, he said she had directed that talks be held with the community members to find a solution to this vexed issue.

Accordingly, a three-member BJP delegation was constituted which met members of fishing villages in Eastern coastal districts of the state, even as he had taken up the matter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Swaraj, Radhakrishnan said.

A total of 15 fishermen representatives, accompanied by senior leaders, including BJP state President Tamizhisai Sounderajan and L Ganesan would meet Swaraj, Radhakrishnan said in a statement here.