India 'concerned over plight of fishermen'

Feb 16, 2011 |

New Delhi

Tags:

fishermen

Defence minister A.K. Antony on Wednesday said the government is concerned over reports about Sri Lankan Navy firing at Indian fishermen and will do 'everything possible' to protect the interests of its fisherfolk.

"Our government is very much concerned about the plight of Indian fishermen and we are constantly monitoring the development and we are taking up the issue with the Sri Lankan government. We will do everything possible to protect the interests of Indian fishermen," he said.

The Minister was answering queries about the alleged abduction of 106 Indian fishermen by Sri Lanka and the recent spurt in incidents where Indian fishermen have been fired upon at by the island nation's military.

Asked to comment on reports suggesting that the land on which the Adarsh society has been built did not belong to the Defence Ministry, Antony said, "from the very beginning, we have been telling that this land is under the possession of the Army... nobody has disputed that. Out stand has already been conveyed to the Mumbai High Court."

Asked for his reaction on USD 1.2 billion military aid to Pakistan from America, the Minister said, "We have repeatedly told the US that even though their intention is to give aid to Pakistan to fight against terrorism but our experience is that a sizable portion of this aid is used against India."

Antony said India was trying to convince the US that they must have a mechanism to monitor whether this aid is diverted against it. "US is also coming to realise this... what we have been saying," he added.

Asked if the External Affairs Ministry has not given permission to IAF chief Air Chief Marshal P V Naik for a foreign visit, Antony said, "Our Services chiefs go abroad regularly. If there are any procedural problems, they will be sorted out."

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