In a letter to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar assured him that efforts are being made to secure the release of 34 Indian fishermen who have been in Sri Lanka's custody. The issue dates back to 1974 and the NDA government has been working towards addressing the livelihood interests of the fishing community since coming to office in 2014. The Indian High Commission in Colombo and Indian consulate in Jaffna are also working to expedite the release of the detained fishermen. With elections approaching in 2024, this has become a key issue for India's external affairs ministry.