New Delhi:
In an unusual move, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna today visited Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj to apprise her about the steps being taken by the government over killing of fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy and rehabilitation of Tamils there.
He drove to the residence of the senior BJP leader after she tweeted about her request for a meeting with him to discuss these issues.
BJP stated Krishna was "gracious enough" to visit Swaraj to allay her serious concerns on five issues including the plight of Indian students in the US, efforts being made to bring back Indians from trouble-torn Egypt, and the fate of an Indian being held hostage by Somali pirates.
Swaraj said Krishna informed her that Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao had visited the neighbouring country to take up the issue of killing and torture of Indian fishermen and met the Sri Lankan President, who "shares our concern".
"The Minister also told me that a Joint Working group that has been constituted to sort out such issues will be made more active to prevent recurrence of such incidents," she said in a tweet.
The JWG of Foreign Secretaries of the two countries already exists but the two countries have decided to reactivate it.
Swaraj also brought up the issue of "dignified rehabilitation" of Tamils in Sri Lanka. Krishna assured her Rs 500 Crore had been alloted for this in the last budget.
"He told me that the Government was constantly monitoring this aspect," she said.
Incidentally, both these issues pertain to Tamil Nadu which goes to polls later this year. Swaraj is the party in-charge of the state.
On the "inhuman treatment" meted out to Indian students studying in a "sham" university in US on whom electronic clamps were tied, Swaraj said Krishna assured her that the Indian embassy officials there were dealing with the matter.
"The External Affairs Minister told me that US has been informed in unequivocal terms that this is unacceptable to us. That we do not treat anybody in this manner in India and do not expect anybody to treat Indians living outside in this manner," Swaraj said, adding the minister was very categorical in his views.
Krishna also told Swaraj that all efforts were being made to bring back Indians wanting to return from Egypt, which is facing political unrest and anti-government protests.
"There are 3,200 Indian citizens in Egypt of which 650 have been brought back. Three planes are waiting in Egypt to bring back those Indians choosing to come back," BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said about the information shared by Krishna with Swaraj.
The senior BJP leader also raised the issue of three Indians held captive by Somali pirates.
Swaraj indicated that she was satisfied with the efforts made by the government.