M Karunanidhi’s rejoinder to Jaya on Katchatheevu

He said, in a statement on Sunday, that the state assembly on August 21, 1974, passed a resolution stating that the island belonged to Tamil Nadu and “we express our deep regret and request the Centre to reconsider the decision.” “Does Jayalalithaa think this is a treacherous document? Couldn’t she understand this?” he asked. 

In 2006, the DMK regime once again wrote to then prime minister Manmohan Singh reminding him about the assembly resolution during AIADMK rule in 1991 stating that the Government of India should take urgent action to get back Katchatheevu and include it in the Indian territory apart from urging the Sri Lankan government to pay compensation to the families of fishermen killed by Sri Lankan Navy as well as those who had lost their belongings in attacks by them. 

The Government of India was also requested to move the Sri Lankan government to create “congenial conditions for the Tamil Nadu fishermen to lead a peaceful life.”  On the other hand, Jayalalithaa had proposed reaching a consensus over the issue while writing to the prime minister on July 23, 2003, saying that the best possible solution was to get the island of Katchatheevu and adjacent seas on lease in perpetuity solely for fishing, drying of nets and pilgrimage. 

Sri Lanka’s sovereignty over Katchatheevu could be upheld at the same time, she had said. She also reiterated that the issue could be resolved if the state government had adequate powesr vested with the Chief Minister, Karunanidhi recalled.  Dravidian parties deceive people: Both CM Jayalalithaa and DMK Treasurer M K Stalin are engaged in a verbal duel over the issue of Katchatheevu. 

While Jayalalithaa alleged that Karunanidhi handed over the island to Sri Lanka, Stalin maintained that it was transferred during the Emergency period, PMK leader S Ramadoss observed in a statement. Karunanidhi did not stop the transfer which was twice signed on June 26, 1974, in Sri Lanka and on 28th in New Delhi. 

Karunanidhi condemned it and just passed a resolution in the general body meeting of the party. However, there was no parliamentary approval for the pact either, Ramadoss said. 

The DMK chief, during the last 25 years, had done nothing beyond filing a suit to retrieve the island from Sri Lanka, Ramadoss alleged. Though Jayalalithaa filed a case and passed a resolution in the Assembly, she did not push for fast disposal of the case, Ramadoss said. The people knew full well that both the Dravidian parties were fooling them on this issue. If voted to power, PMK would take concrete action to retrieve the island.