PM Modi’s Fresh Attack Uncovers DMK Double Standard in Katchatheevu Row

PM Modi’s Fresh Attack Uncovers DMK Double Standard in Katchatheevu Row

As the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) steps up its campaign in Tamil Nadu for the Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi publicly criticized the Congress party and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Monday. Prime Minister Modi stated, “The DMK’s double standard has been exposed,” citing recent information about Katchatheevu.

India’s claim to the island was renounced in an agreement with Sri Lanka signed in 1974 by the Indian government, led by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The island had historically been used by Indian fishermen; therefore, this plan was met with strong criticism, especially in Tamil Nadu. Era Sezhiyan, a DMK MP, has vehemently opposed it in Parliament, calling it a transfer of territory without due process.

According to a now-published source, M. Karunanidhi, the chief minister of Tamil Nadu at the time, met with Indian officials prior to the Center’s announcement and gave his general approval to the arrangement. The media article is based on an RTI response that Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai obtained in response to his inquiries concerning the 1974 Indo-Lanka pact, which was signed during the tenure of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

According to the report, Karunanidhi said that he would be willing to accept the arrangement once he was informed about it. In a post on X, Modi stated, “DMK has done nothing to safeguard Tamil Nadu’s interests, rhetoric aside.” “DMK and Congress are families. Their sons and daughters’ success is all that matters to them. They have no regard for other people. The prime minister continued, “Our poor fishermen and fisherwomen in particular have suffered from their callousness on Katchatheevu.”

The lone building on the island is St. Anthony’s Shrine, which is located in Katchatheevu. Indian fishermen are permitted to come here for net drying and rest, as well as to attend the yearly St. Anthony’s festival, as per the agreement made in June 1974. They still risk being detained by the Sri Lankan government, though. On Sunday, the prime minister aimed at the Congress about the matter.

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He added, “Weakening India’s unity, integrity, and interests has been the Congress’ way of working for 75 years and counting.” The topic has been raised by the prime minister previously. Modi stated that the Tamil Nadu government continues to write to him, pleading with him to “take back Katchatheevu” during the Parliament’s monsoon session last year. The treatment of its own Tamil citizens and fishermen in Tamil Nadu by neighboring Sri Lanka has long been a contentious political issue in the state, and the BJP is hoping that this issue will help them in their attempts to gain political traction in the Dravidian territory during the Lok Sabha polls.