I am hugely indebted to her for saving me: Craslin 

Speaking to DT Next, Craslin, said, “When I was in Iran I suffered from severe chest pain and I informed it to my family and Justin Antony, founding president, INFIDET, who then informed Sushma Swaraj and she took efforts to release me ahead of 14 other fishermen, who were also arrested along with me. If it was not for Sushma Swaraj, I would not have even returned to India and to hear the news of her death, I was deeply saddened and did not move away from the television since morning.”

Craslin along with 14 other fishermen working in Dubai accidentally ventured into Iranian waters and were arrested. Out of the 15 fishermen, Craslin was the only fishermen to suffer chest pain and his family wanted him badly to return to India to undertake treatment.

It was Justin Antony, based in Kanniyakumari, who was the first person to inform about the arrests to Sushma Swaraj and wanted Craslin back immediately. Justin Antony said, “I spoke directly to Sushma Swaraj and though initially she said that the process is difficult to bring only one fisherman immediately, she took steps after I insisted citing the health condition of Craslin. Sushma was a good listener and a good human being.” He also said that when Sushma Swaraj was the minister of external affairs he had managed to rescue 138 fishermen stranded in various countries in 2016 and 117 fishermen stranded in various countries in 2017. Sushma’s death is a great loss to the entire fishermen community, added Justin Antony.