Sri Lanka releases 11 Indian fishermen as special gesture
Colombo (PTI): Sri Lanka on Sunday released at least 11 Indian fishermen as a special gesture, a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi pitched for resolving the vexed fishermen issue with a "humane approach".
The fishermen issue figured prominently during talks between PM Modi and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Saturday.
"We also discussed issues related to fishermen's livelihood. We agreed that we should proceed with a humane approach in this matter," Modi said in his media statement after meeting Dissanayake.
"We also emphasised on immediate release of the fishermen and their boats," he said.
At least 11 Indian fishermen were released as a special gesture, people familiar with the matter said.
The fishermen issue is a contentious one in ties between the two sides.
There have been several alleged incidents in the past of Sri Lankan Navy personnel using force against Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait which is a narrow strip of water separating Tamil Nadu from Sri Lanka.
At a media briefing on Saturday, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said the fishermen issue was discussed in "considerable detail" between the two sides.
"As the prime minister said himself during his remarks, there was an emphasis on the need to adopt a humanitarian and constructive approach to cooperation on these issues because these are ultimately issues that impact the livelihood of fishermen on both sides of the Palk Bay," he said.
"The prime minister emphasised that at the end of the day, it is a daily issue for the fishermen and that certain actions that have been taken in recent times could be reconsidered," Misri said.
The foreign secretary said both sides also emphasised the need to intensify the institutional discussions on the issue.
"Both sides are in touch with each other on the possibility of convening the next round of fishermen's association talks between Sri Lanka and India," he said.
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Congress did not allow Ambedkar's last rites to be performed in Delhi: UP CM Adityanath
Lucknow, Apr 13 (PTI): Accusing the Congress of disrespecting Dr B R Ambedkar, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday alleged that the grand old party denied the architect of the Indian Constitution a memorial and did not allow his last rites to take place in the national capital.
The chief minister made this assertion while addressing a workshop held under 'Bharat Ratna' Babasaheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Samman Samaroh in Lucknow.
"First they (apparently pointing towards the Congress) made Babasaheb Ambedkar lose the elections. After his 'mahaparinirvaan', they did not allow his last rites to be performed in Delhi. The Congress also did not allow his memorial to come up," said Adityanath.
"In 1976, they brought an amendment in the Constitution and inserted a word against which Babasaheb had himself given arguments," he added.
The last rites of Dr Ambedkar, who died at his home in Delhi on December 6, 1956, were performed according to Buddhist traditions. His cremation took place at Chaitya Bhoomi in Maharashtra's Mumbai city.
