People who don't know the history are talking about Katchatheevu: Stalin slams AIADMK
He reiterated that retrieval of Katchatheevu was the permanent solution for the plaguing fishermen issue.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin speaking at the Fisherman Welfare Conference in Rameswaram on Friday. (Twitter/@mkstalin)
CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Friday reprimanded rival AIADMK over its 'ignorance' of the history of ceding of Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka while chairing the Fisherman Welfare Conference in Rameswaram on Friday.
"Without knowing the history, they (AIADMK) are insinuating that the transfer of Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka by way of mutual agreements in 1974 was done with the consent of the then Chief Minister M Karunanidhi. The AIADMK was the only party that walked out of the all-party meeting for Katchatheevu. AIADMK always makes it clear that they are betraying Tamil Nadu," he said.
"Former CM Karunanidhi went to Delhi and insisted that Katchatheevu island shouldn't be ceded. He even wrote a letter stating that Katchatheevu never displayed proclivity towards the Sri Lankan government and he contended that the island belongs to India," Stalin added.
He reiterated that retrieval of Katchatheevu was the permanent solution for the plaguing fishermen issue.
The Chief Minister's reference regarding the ceding of the island comes days after PM Modi said it was the Indira Gandhi government that gave the Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka in 1974.
The CM also condemned harassment and attacks on Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy. He said that the continued attacks on Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy show the Union government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was ''weak'' and has increased during the current NDA regime.
Earlier on July 20, CM Stalin wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking him to take up key issues with Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe, including the retrieval of Katchatheevu.
