The BJP has begun a new offensive against the Congress and the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu ahead of the Lok Sabha Election on April 19, 2024. PM Modi accused the ruling party of Tamil Nadu, the DMK, of disregarding the interests of the state and criticized them for their handling of the Katchatheevu island issue on Monday.
The local media has expressed disapproval of the recent remarks made by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi about Katchatheevu, despite the government of Sri Lanka having not yet responded to them.
The comments were characterized as “a distortion of facts, a subtle appeal to South Indian nationalism, and a perilous and unnecessary provocation of a friendly neighbour that could lead to serious consequences” by The Daily Financial Times in an editorial titled “Katchatheevu was not India’s to give away.”
The editorial issued a warning against the persistently provocative claims made about Sri Lankan territory, especially by powerful individuals in India. It implied that such actions might force Sri Lanka to look elsewhere for security guarantees.
On Katchatheevu, PM Modi
PM Modi used X to draw attention to fresh information regarding the handover of the island of Katchatheevu by India to Sri Lanka, exposing what he called the DMK’s hypocrisy. He quoted a news article saying that, in spite of public opposition from his party, then Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi had approved the agreement.
“The DMK has not done anything to advance the interests of Tamil Nadu, despite their rhetoric. Recent information regarding #Katchatheevu has completely revealed the hypocrisy of the DMK. The DMK and Congress are comparable to families. They disregard others and put their own kin’s advancement first. In particular, their disregard for Katchatheevu has hurt our poor fishermen and fishermenwomen,” PM Modi tweeted.
Based on an RTI response that Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai received, the media report discusses the 1974 agreement between India and Sri Lanka that was reached during the prime ministerial tenure of Indira Gandhi.
Row of Katchatheevu Island
There has been an ongoing conflict between Sri Lanka and India over the Katchatheevu island row. The primary cause of the dispute emerged from the two nations’ divergent interpretations of past agreements and treaties.
By bilateral agreement, India gave Sri Lanka administrative control over Katchatheevu in 1974. Fishing rights, maritime boundaries, and territorial sovereignty remain contentious issues as a result of the agreement’s failure to address the maritime boundary issue. Tension resulted from this, particularly with regard to Indian fishermen.
The Sri Lankan government has regularly arrested Indian fishermen for allegedly fishing in the waters close to Katchatheevu. The problem is currently being worked on.
( INPUT FROM MINT)
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