'Lankan-type pact with Pak for fishermen's release'

Gandhinagar, Mar 8: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today urged the Centre to go in for a ''Sri Lankan type'' of agreement with Pakistan while dealing with arrested Indian fishermen.

The pact with Sri Lanka allows both parties to complete the verification formalities within 15 days and then sending the captured fishermen back to their respective countries without much delay. On the other hand, Pakistan holds Indian fishermen for interminably long period of two to three years, he said.

Mr Modi, who was making a statement in the Assembly on a calling attention motion moved by Congress MLA Chandrikaben Chudasma, said the arrested Indian fishermen could also be a cause of concern for the maritime security since they might be aware of some sensitive details.

He also said Pakistan was misusing the boats seized from Indian fishermen. He lamented the recent changes in procedures whereby a fisherman was now sent home at the Wagah border minus the boat.

Earlier, the fishermen were sent home at the Karachi port with their boats, he said.

The Chief Minister said the state government was paying Rs 50 per day to the families of the fishermen held by Pakistan. Till now 1400 fishermen were released between January 2005 to January 2007 due to the efforts of the state government, Mr Modi said.

Gujarat Fisheries Minister Bhupendrasinh M Chudasama, in his reply, said that all Gujarat MPs will meet the Chief Minister to take up this matter with the Centre.

UNI