Government intervention in Tamil Nadu fishermen release great achievement: Rajiv Pratap Rudy

NEW DELHI: The government today highlighted its "intervention" in the safe release of five Tamil Nadu fishermen who were facing death penalty in Sri Lanka, and termed it as a "great achievement".

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Pratap Rudy made these remarks in the Lok Sabha this evening when an AIADMK member while demanding retrieval of Katchatheevu island from Sri Lanka referred to the fishermen issue.

Raising the issue as a matter of 'urgent public importance', MP V Elumalai said while the AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu arranged for Rs 20 lakh to help the fishermen facing death sentence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi too intervened.

The AIADMK MP said India should reclaim the island of Katchatheevu from Sri Lanka.

Rudy said he wanted to flag the issue of the intervention of the central government in ensuring the fishermen's release.

"The Government of India intervened... It was a great achievement. I am flagging the issue as the House should know," he said.

Modi today thanked Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa for pardoning and sending back five Indian fishermen. The two are in Kathmandu to attend the SAARC Summit.