Lankan action against Indian fishermen not acceptable: Singh

NEW DELHI: PM Manmohan Singh on Wednesday came down heavily on Sri Lanka over the detention of 118 Indian fishermen by the Lankan authorities. In his interaction with television journalists, Singh said that this kind of behaviour was not acceptable among neighbouring countries.

“I have been told that about 118 fishermen have been taken into custody. We are taking up this matter with the Sri Lankan government. We take a very serious view. I think only earlier this month, the foreign secretary made a strong demarche...this kind of behaviour is not acceptable among neighbouring countries,’’ said Singh.

The Prime Minister was responding to a question about the fishermen being apprehended by the Sri Lankan authorities on Tuesday after they allegedly crossed over into their waters. The arrest comes close on the heels of the killing of two Indian fishermen allegedly by the Sri Lankan Navy.

External affairs minister S.M. Krishna had on 1 February said use of force against Indian fishermen should be part of the history and asked Sri Lanka to take a decision that will not upset the bilateral ties.