Lanka promises to solve fishermen dispute

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has promised a long-term solution for problems faced by Tamil fishermen, said Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu.

The Union Urban Development Minister, who landed today in Chennai to attend the launch of Mudra Bank Yojana, spoke to mediapersons at the airport, News Today reported.

Venkaiah said, ‘During a meeting with the Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickaramsinghae, I requested him to find a permanent solution for the problems faced by Tamil fishermen. He has promised that he will look into the issue once the Sri Lankan Parliament settles down.’

Talking about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US, Venkaiah said, ‘The visit is made to strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries. This will bring more investments into the country. In the background of the financial crisis, India has become an island of hope for investors.’

He added that ‘Modi receives huge response from all the countries he has visited and India is respected all over the world now.’

With regard to the land acquisition bill, he said, ‘The Congress is shedding crocodile tears about it. They have acquired so many acres of lands in Andhra, Karnataka, Maharashtra and I have got statistics for Rajasthan also. They are trying to politicise every issue. Recently, they even said Modi has disrespected the national flag by signing on it. It was a box prepared by a physically-challenged person and that is why he signed on it.’

Talking about the upcoming Bihar elections, he was sure the Congress alliance will be defeated in the State. They should understand why they are losing and try to correct it, he added.

He added that Modi was the Messiah of the poor and Rs 1.25 lakh crore will be given by March next year through the Mudra Bank Yojana.