New Delhi: Expressing his happiness over the release five Indian fishermen on death row in Sri Lanka, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy today said the nation is grateful to the joint efforts of the Indian and Sri Lankan heads of state for finding a solution to the “emotionally surcharged” issue.
“The nation is grateful to the joint efforts of President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for finding a solution to the emotionally surcharged Tamil fishermen issue,” Swamy said in a statement here.
“I am happy I was able to bring to the notice of both that a treaty of 2010 could facilitate the transfer to India of these fishermen,” he added.
Swamy also urged the Prime Minister to repair the “ruptured” relations between India and Sri Lanka on the basis of mutual respect and dialogue. Five Indian fishermen sentenced to death in Sri Lanka for alleged drug trafficking were released today after President Mahinda Rajapaksa pardoned them.
Emerson, P Augustus, R Wilson, K Prasath and J Langlet, all hailing from Tamil Nadu, were apprehended in 2011 and were sentenced to death by the Colombo High Court on October 30 for alleged drug trafficking.
The court ruling had triggered fiery protests in parts of Tamil Nadu and sporadic violence broke out in and around Rameswaram island as a large number of people staged protests.
