BJP TODAY

February 16--28, 2005 - Vol. 24, No. 4

BJP demands release of Indian fishermen by Pakistan
By our Correspondent

Frequent arrest of Indian fishermen by Pakistani authorities, outside the range of Pakistani waters, is a part of Islamabad's entrenched anti-India policy. Almost all these fishermen belong to Gujarat. The BJP, as well as the BJP government in Gujarat, have been at the forefront of taking up the cause of our fishermen harassed by Pakistan.

On January 22nd, 2005, BJP President Shri L.K. Advani led a delegation to submit a memorandum to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh asking the government of India to raise this issue with Pakistan. The delegation included Shri Rajendra Singh Rana, president of the Gujarat unit of the Party, Shri Jayantibhai Kevat, convenor of the state unit of the Fishermen's Cell of the BJP, and others.

Shri Advani highlighted that, of the 910 Indian fishermen arrested by Pakistan, only 256 have been returned, while 644 are still languishing in Pakistani jails. However, their fishing trawlers have not been returned causing a lot of financial hardships to the already poor fishing families.

Previously, the captured Indian fishermen were released within five to six months of their arrest, along with their boats. Lately, the Pakistani authorities release the fishermen only through the land border at Wagah in Punjab. As their fishing boats and trawlers cannot be given by land, these are still under Pakistani custody. As per estimates, there are about 157 Indian fishing boats, valued at Rs. 19 crore, under Pakistani custody. The livelihood of over 16,000 people is connected with these boats. Hence the BJP demanded that the fishermen be released on the sea along with their boats, rather than at Wagah.

The delegation also demanded well-armed Indian coastal and naval patrols in the Jakhau area between India and Pakistan along the Gujarat coast to prevent illegal capture of Indian fishermen.