Secure release of 47 fishermen apprehended by Lankan Navy: TN CM tells Centre
Chennai (PTI): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Thursday urged External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to expeditiously secure the release of 47 Tamil Nadu fishermen apprehended by the Sri Lankan navy.
Drawing the central minister's immediate attention to the apprehension of 47 fishermen, who set sail from Ramanathapuram on five fishing boats earlier in the day, the chief minister said the incident caused significant distress within the fishing community, spreading fear and uncertainty across the coastal districts.
"It is pertinent to highlight that this is the first instance in 2025 where such a large number of fishermen have been apprehended on a single day," Stalin said in a letter addressed to Jaishankar.
Repeated incidents such as these not only jeopardised the safety and livelihoods of our fishermen but also severely undermined their morale and confidence in pursuing their traditional occupation, he added.
As of today, a total of 242 fishing boats and 74 fishermen from Tamil Nadu remain in Sri Lankan custody. "Given the seriousness of the situation, I earnestly request your urgent intervention to address this matter with the authorities concerned and also to secure the expeditious release of the apprehended fishermen and their boats," the CM said in the letter.
Also, he urged Jaishankar to revive the Joint Working Group and to take all diplomatic efforts to ensure that such incidents did not recur.
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PM Modi meets Dutch royals in Netherlands, discusses cooperation in technology, innovation
The Hague (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday met King of the Netherlands Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima at the Royal Palace and discussed close cooperation in digital technology, innovation, fintech and blue economy.
Modi arrived in the Netherlands on Friday - after a brief stopover in the UAE - on the second leg of his five-nation tour that also includes Sweden, Norway and Italy.
"Met His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and Her Majesty Queen Máxima at the Royal Palace. It was wonderful exchanging perspectives on boosting India-Netherlands friendship across key sectors like technology, innovation, sustainable growth, commerce and water resources," PM Modi posted on X after the meeting.
Modi said that India and the Netherlands are "connected by shared interests and a shared belief in building a future-ready planet."
"They discussed the growing partnership between India and the Netherlands," the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X.
"Both sides noted the close cooperation in the areas of sustainability, climate action, digital technology, innovation, fintech and blue economy," he added.
The two sides also expressed commitment towards further strengthening India–Netherlands relations.
Earlier in the day, Modi addressed a gathering of the Indian diaspora in The Hague where he called India a “land of opportunities” undergoing an “unprecedented transformation”.
The PM's visit to the European nation from May 15 to 17 is his second trip to the country after his 2017 visit and comes at what officials described as an "important juncture" in India-Netherlands ties.
India and the Netherlands have significantly expanded cooperation in recent years beyond traditional sectors such as trade, investment and the priority areas of water, agriculture and health.
The partnership has grown in strategic sectors, including technology, innovation, defence, security, semiconductors, renewable energy, education and the maritime domain, the MEA said.
The Netherlands is one of India’s largest trade destinations in Europe, with bilateral trade valued at USD 27.8 billion in 2024-25. It is also India’s fourth-largest investor, with cumulative foreign direct investment amounting to USD 55.6 billion, officials said.
People-to-people ties remain a key pillar of the bilateral relationship.
Later on Saturday, Modi is scheduled to meet his Dutch counterpart Rob Jetten.
