Krishna apologises for absence

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna on Thursday apologised for not being present in Rajya Sabha during a Calling Attention Motion on the repeated attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen.

Amidst slogan shouting by BJP on coalgate and Samajwadi party against the quota for promotions bill, Upper House Deputy Chairman P J Kurien asked AIADMK member V Maitreyan to raise the matter. But, when Maitreyan got up to speak, he stopped immediately. “There is no minister in the House... No minister, no minister,” he said, gesticulating to the Chair. Kurien also looked askance at the empty seats on treasury benches.

With the ongoing chaos, Kurien decided to adjourn the House till 2 pm. As the chair temporarily suspended the chamber, Maitreyan was seen rushing to the well of the House. Speaking to Express, Maitreyan said that he had shifted the motion from Wednesday on the request of the minister. But, in protest against the minister’s absence, he gave a privilege notice to the Chair. Before the House resumed at 2 pm, Krishna arrived and went up to Maitreyan. Both of them shook hands warmly, and Krishna seemed to be explaining him the reason for not being present in the House earlier. When the House met again, Kurien noted that Krishna was in the House and requested to allow him to make his statement. “He has also apologised,” he added.

In his statement, Krishna assured the members that New Delhi has “consistently taken up issues relating to incidents of firing or apprehensions of our fishermen with Sri Lanka to ensure that the  Lankan Navy acted with restraint and our fishermen were treated in a humane manner.”

He also claimed that the incidents of attack and apprehending of fishermen by Sri Lankan authorities have “significantly come down” after the October 2008 understanding on practical measures.

“Both countries agreed that the use of force could not be justified under any circumstances, and reiterated in this regard the importance of extending humane treatment to all fishermen,” Krishna added, talking about the discussions of bilateral JWG on fisheries in Colombo this January.

“The Government has requested the State Government to finalise the dates for a proposed meeting of the representatives of fishermen association from the two countries early,” said the Exrternal Affairs Minister.