RS: MPs flag fishermen torture, fund crunch

Members of Parliament (MPs) from across political parties on Wednesday raised several issues in the Rajya Sabha, ranging from the illegal detention and torture of Tamil fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy to the financial crisis faced by Gram Panchayats in Karnataka due to the non-release of central funds.

Among other issues raised during Zero Hour, members also flagged the water crisis in Hyderabad, and the demand for classical language status to Maithili, and sought the Centre’s intervention on these matters. DMK MP from Tamil Nadu, Tiruchi Siva, while highlighting the plight of fishermen from his State, said that when they go out to sea for fishing and inadvertently cross the invisible international maritime boundary, they are captured and tortured in an inhuman manner by the Sri Lankan Navy.

He said that hundreds of fishing boats are currently in the custody of the Sri Lankan Navy, causing severe livelihood issues for the fishermen.

According to him, although the Centre intervenes every time the State Government writes to it, there is a need for a permanent and final solution.