Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has once again demanded decisive action from the Union Government on the long-standing Katchatheevu issue, accusing the BJP-led Centre of politicising the matter while failing to protect the rights and safety of Tamil Nadu’s fishermen.
Union BJP Govt Politicising Katchatheevu: Stalin
Speaking at a public event, Stalin said, “Our government is taking all necessary steps towards the retrieval of Katchatheevu. Whenever I meet the Prime Minister, I reiterate the need to retrieve Katchatheevu to bring about a permanent solution to the fishermen's issue.”
Stalin reminded the audience that Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly had already passed a resolution seeking the retrieval of the island ceded to Sri Lanka in 1974, and that the state continues to press for the release of Indian fishermen detained in Sri Lankan prisons along with their seized boats.
Criticising the Union Government’s inaction, Stalin said, "The Union BJP Govt, which doesn't bother about Tamil Nadu and our fishermen, is only politicising the Katchatheevu matter. Treaties with foreign countries usually come under the ambit of the Union Government. What has the BJP Govt at the centre done in the last 10 years to retrieve Katchatheevu? Have they at least stopped the arrest of Tamil Nadu fishermen by Sri Lankan authorities? No."
He called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to personally intervene and find a lasting solution to the crisis. "We request the PM to intervene and bring a solution to this issue directly. Our state government and DMK will continue their fight for this," he said.