A seven-member delegation from Gujarat will visit Pakistan later this month to take up the issue of release of 434 Indian fishermen and 379 boats with the authorities concerned.
VADODARA: A seven-member delegation from Gujarat will visit Pakistan later this month to take up the issue of release of 434 Indian fishermen and 379 boats with the authorities concerned, a senior leader of Indian Fishermen Association (IFA) said.
"The move comes after the Indian authorities received a communique from Pakistan warning them that the seized boats would be put on auction after October 30 if the two sides do not reach an amicable solution," IFA president Veljibhai Masani said.
Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi was worried over the issue and took up the matter with the Union Government. The Centre, realising the seriousness of the issue, supported the state government's stand of sending a delegation to Pakistan to ask them to release the Indian fishermen and boats on humanitarian grounds, he added.
Thereafter, Modi along with State Fisheries and Agriculture minister Dilip Sanghani formed the delegation and procedural formalities are underway to enable them to go to Pakistan.
Special sources within the state government also confirmed reports of Pakistan setting up a deadline to resolve the issue.
Pakistan has stopped releasing Indian boats in its custody since 2003 which has aggravated the problems of the fishermen community here.
Many of these fishermen have taken loans for buying boats, and in wake of their inability to repay the loan and deteriorating economic condition six of them have committed suicide in last three years.
During the visit, the delegation will also meet Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and request him to make arrangements for immediate release of the boats and fishermen in Pakistani custody, Masani said.
The delegation, first in last five years, will also visit Karachi and Islamabad during its tour to the country.
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