DMK leader M. Karunanidhi on Friday alleged that Chief Minister Jayalalithaa was harping on the Katchatheevu issue only to divert the people’s attention from the regular problems faced by the Tamil fishermen.
“Whenever she raised this issue, I have given a proper explanation on behalf of the DMK. She is harping on the issue only with ulterior motives,” Mr. Karunanidhi said in a statement.
The DMK leader said the AIADMK government in 2012 had informed the Madras High Court that ‘the State government has repeatedly made it clear that the execution of 1974 and 1976 agreements with Sri Lanka regarding the Katchatheevu was signed without consulting Tamil Nadu and without due consideration to the welfare of thousands of fishermen family who depend on fishing in the Palk Straits.” Hence, it would be incorrect to say that the DMK government was responsible for ceding the island. He said the Chief Minister was yet to respond to the question raised by him in connection with the stand taken by the AIADMK government that ceding to Sri Lanka had been done by the Government of India in the interest of better bilateral relations.
