Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin leveled accusations against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of disseminating falsehoods regarding the Katchatheevu issue to target the DMK party and holding him responsible for neglecting state projects.
In a social media post, Stalin asserted that PM Modi had blatantly lied during his rally in Kanyakumari on March 15, alleging that Tamil Nadu fishermen face hardships from Sri Lanka solely due to the past actions of the DMK.
Stalin emphasized that the historical context is well known to the people of Tamil Nadu, highlighting that the Katchatheevu island was ceded to Sri Lanka in 1974 and 1976 despite strong opposition from the DMK government. He questioned PM Modi’s understanding, suggesting it was implausible for a state government to relinquish a portion of the country to another nation.
The Chief Minister further demanded answers regarding the BJP government’s efforts over the past decade to reclaim the Katchatheevu island from Sri Lanka and questioned why Tamil Nadu fishermen continue to face arrest and harassment without any intervention from the Indian government.
Stalin criticized PM Modi for failing to condemn Sri Lanka’s confiscation and nationalization of Indian fishermen’s boats, particularly during the BJP regime when Lankan courts started sentencing fishermen to prison terms for repeated offenses.
Stalin accused PM Modi of resorting to “usual lies” during his rally in Kanyakumari and criticized him for remaining silent on special projects for Tamil Nadu while boasting about being a global leader.
In response, BJP state chief K Annamalai defended the party, attributing silence on the Katchatheevu issue to the DMK’s governance over five decades. Annamalai highlighted that the DMK, during its tenure in 1974, facilitated the cession of Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka. He further criticized the DMK for its silence on the issue while being part of successive governments at the Center.
Annamalai also pointed out instances of alleged inaction by the DMK during incidents such as the killing of fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy under the DMK-Congress alliance.
Source: PTI
