In a fiery critique, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing verbal assault on the Congress and DMK regarding the Katchatheevu issue, accusing both parties of prioritizing their familial interests over the welfare of Tamil Nadu.
Through a post on a social media platform, PM Modi asserted that despite their rhetoric, the DMK had failed to take any meaningful action to protect Tamil Nadu's interests. Recent revelations regarding Katchatheevu, according to him, have fully exposed the DMK's hypocrisy. Drawing parallels between
Congress and DMK, PM Modi contended that both function as family-centric entities solely focused on promoting their own progeny, with scant regard for anyone else. He lamented that this indifference, particularly concerning Katchatheevu, has adversely affected the livelihoods of impoverished fishermen and fisherwomen.
The Prime Minister's remarks were prompted by a media report citing an RTI response from the Ministry of External Affairs to the Tamil Nadu BJP President, K. Annamalai.
PM Modi reiterated the contention made earlier that the Government of India, under the leadership of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, had relinquished control of the Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka in 1974.
The RTI disclosure revealed that Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister, had deemed the island insignificant and saw no justification for its retention.
Annamalai, armed with the obtained document, highlighted that the renowned legal luminary of the time, M.C. Setalvad, had advised that India possessed a strong legal claim to Katchatheevu, as the rights to the island were transferred by the East India Company to the Ramanad (Ramanathapuram) king.
Meanwhile, the fishermen of Tamil Nadu continue to grapple with the harsh realities of their situation, enduring the Sri Lankan Navy's frequent arrests and confiscation of their valuable mechanized boats. Since January 2024, over 125 Tamil fishermen have been apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy, leading to mounting frustration and discontent among the affected fishermen and their families.
In protest against these injustices, fishermen families in Ramanathapuram, Nagapattinam, Pudukottai, and various other fishing communities across Tamil Nadu have initiated strikes, denouncing the continued arrests and confiscations.
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