ROUTINE MATTER
   Date :15-Aug-2019

 
FISHERMEN from Tamil Nadu venturing allegedly into Sri Lankan territorial waters and in turn the island nation’s naval personnel arresting them and confiscating their fishing equipment, has become a routine matter. This has been going on for years with neither the fisher folks relenting from their practice nor a solution being hammered out at top authority level. Since it pertains to bilateral relations between two neighbouring countries, it would be in the fitness of things to sort out the matter at the Central Government level in both the countries. In the first place the fisher folks would have to be restrained from venturing into Sri Lankan waters by placing clear markers to identify the other country’s territorial waters. and also deploying coast guards on Indian side to accomplish the purpose. The issue has become an irritant between the two nations and hence it would be only proper if authorities at central level intervene in the matter to avoid harassment to the fisher folks and save them from loss.
 
DON’T PLAY
 
IT IS baffling to see the All India Tennis Association (AITA) adopting a casual approach over Indian Davis Cup team’s request to shift the forthcoming tie against Pakistan to a neutral venue. The Indian team is required to travel to Islamabad in September to play the Asia Oceania Group 1 fixture. However, given the present conditions on ground after the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and resultant dirty response from Pakistan, it would be absolutely foolish to make the Indian team travel to Islamabad. The move is fraught with extreme danger which India as a country must avoid at any cost, even if it means forfeiture of the match and losing points. The Indian players’ lives are more important than the Davis Cup and the AITA would do well to present the reality to the International Tennis Federation and seek a venue change. By no means can top Indian tennis stars be forced to travel to Pakistan whose nefarious designs are tumbling out each day. It is also upto the Union Government to step in and refuse permission to the team.