Over 650 Indian fishermen stranded near Iran’s Kish Island amid conflict
Kanyakumari MP urges MEA for immediate escalation
Chennai: Kanyakumari MP Vijay Vasanth has appealed to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to urgently evacuate over 650 Indian fishermen stranded near Kish Island in Iran. The fishermen, most of whom hail from coastal villages in Tamil Nadu's Kanyakumari district, are reportedly facing acute shortages of food and essential supplies due to the ongoing regional conflict between Israel and Iran.
In a letter dated 3 July addressed to M. Anand Prakash, Joint Secretary of the MEA's PAI Division, the MP highlighted the worsening conditions faced by the stranded fishermen. He noted that despite the Indian Embassy officials visiting the group and assessing their situation, their distress continues to mount. Vasanth stated that contact details and the fishermen’s location have already been shared with the authorities, and Antony Shaju has been designated as the liaison point for coordination.
The MP described the situation as a humanitarian crisis and called for immediate delivery of food supplies and safe repatriation. Families of the fishermen in India are reportedly anxious, with no clear update yet from the government regarding an evacuation plan.
According to reports, more than 1,000 fishermen from Tamil Nadu, mainly from Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, and Thoothukudi, were working in Iran on contractual jobs near the Kish Island port. Operations were suspended after hostilities escalated between Israel and Iran. Although tensions have slightly eased, the conditions remain unsafe, and over 650 fishermen are still stranded aboard their motorboats without access to land or supplies.
MEA sources have confirmed that the issue is under urgent consideration, though an official statement is yet to be released.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
2001 Parliament attack anniversary: Vice Prez, PM Modi, MPs pay tributes to fallen heroes
New Delhi (PTI): Vice President C P Radhakrishnan on Saturday led Parliamentarians in paying floral tributes to those who died fending off terrorists who attacked the Parliament House in 2001.
On the 24th anniversary of the attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Radhakrishnan, who is also the Rajya Sabha Chair, were among the first to offer tributes.
A brief function is held outside the now old Parliament building (Samvidhan Sadan) every December 13 to mark the day.
CISF personnel presented a salute or "samman guard" at the venue, after which a moment of silence was observed to mark the anniversary. Till 2023, the CRPF used to offer 'salami shastra' (present arms).
Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, a senior party leader, were also present at the event. Union ministers Kiren Rijiju, Jitendra Singh and Arjun Ram Meghwal also lined up to offer flower petals at the photographs of the personnel who went down foiling the attack.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla is in Latur to attend the funeral of former speaker of the Lower House of Parliament and ex-Union minister Shivraj Patil.
The attack was carried out by five armed terrorists, but personnel from the now former Parliament Security Service, CRPF and Delhi Police foiled the attack, with no terrorist being able to enter the building.
Six Delhi Police personnel, two Parliament Security Service personnel, a gardener and a TV video journalist were killed in the attack. All five terrorists were gunned down in the forecourt of the then Parliament building.
