Government to engage with Lanka for release of fishermen

After the AIADMK, the DMK and Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj flayed “inaction” on the harassment and killing of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy, the Government said it would continue to engage with the island nation to get them released from Lankan prisons.

AIADMK leader M Thambidurai said Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had written several letters to the Prime Minister, but no concrete action had been taken.

Concern shared

In his reply, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said in the Lok Sabha: “We share the concerns of the members over the situation faced by the fishermen. A large number of fishermen have already been released (by Sri Lanka). We will continue to engage with Sri Lanka to ensure that no more arrests are made and ensure all those arrested are released.”

Several political parties, led by Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav, lashed out at the Government for not bringing a Constitutional amendment to annul a Supreme Court order against reservation for faculty in the super speciality section in All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), despite assurances by Law Minister Kapil Sibal in the House.

“We have been humiliated on several occasions… You did the same thing on the issue of caste census,” Yadav said.

Nath assured members that the last session of the 15{+t}{+h} Lok Sabha could be extended to address the issue.

Members of the SP, the BSP and the Congress trooped to the Well of the House in protest, leading to an adjournment.

Women’s Bill

As the session nears its end, unattached MP Jayaprada raised the issue of the long-pending Women’s Reservation Bill, amid thumping of desks by Congress women members and MPs from the Left parties, the Biju Janata Dal and the Trinamool Congress.

Since the extended Winter Session of Parliament ends on Friday, Nath said: “I am ready to extend the session to get the Women’s Reservation Bill passed if the House agrees.”