Members in Indian Parliament on Wednesday voiced concern over remarks of Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe that his country's navy has the right to shoot any "intruder", prompting the government to express willingness for a debate on the issue, a PTI report said.

Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker and AIADMK leader M. Thambidurai drew attention of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to the statement of Wickremesinghe as soon as she made a statement in the House on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Sri Lanka, Seychelles and Mauritius. Thambidurai said the Sri Lankan Prime Minister has repeated his 'right to shoot' remarks after the visit of Modi to the island nation.

The Sri Lankan leader had made a similar statement before Modi's visit also, saying if Indian fishermen intrude into his country's territorial waters, its fishermen have the right to shoot. Urging the government to take the matter "seriously", Thambidurai demanded a discussion on his remarks under Rule 193 (short duration discussion) which does not entail voting.

Several Congress and other members also rose to their feet to support AIADMK. Swaraj said Modi discussed problems faced by fishermen with the Sri Lankan leadership and pointed out that this is a complex issue involving livelihood and humanitarian concerns on both side.

The government is ready for a discussion on the statement of the Sri Lankan PM, she said. Swaraj made her statement regarding Modi's visit in Hindi. But when she referred to the Sri Lankan leg of the tour, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu told her to speak that part in English for the benefit of people living in South India and Swaraj obliged.

AIADMK, led by Jayalalitha Jeyaram, is the governing party in Tamil Nadu, and has been in constant dispute with Sri Lanka over the last few years regarding the fishermen’s issue.
(With inputs from PTI)