Prime Minister Narendra Modi targeted the DMK on Monday over the Katchatheevu island issue, alleging the ruling party of Tamil Nadu did nothing to safeguard the state’s interests.
New details emerging on the issue of India handing over the Katchatheevu island to Sri Lank have totally unmasked the DMK’s double standards, he said on X, citing a news report that claimed then chief minister M Karunanidhi had given his concurrence to the agreement despite his party, the DMK, ‘s public posturing against the deal.
The media report is based on an RTI reply from Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai to his queries on the 1974 agreement between India and Lanka when Indira Gandhi was the prime minister.
Modi said, “Rhetoric aside, DMK has done NOTHING to safeguard Tamil Nadu’s interests. New details emerging on Katchatheevu have UNMASKED the DMK’s double standards totally.” “The Congress and DMK are family units. They only care that their own sons and daughters rise. They don’t care for anyone else. Their callousness on Katchatheevu has harmed the interests of our poor fishermen and fisherwomen in particular,” he added.
On Sunday, the prime minister targeted Congress on the issue.
He said, “Weakening India’s unity, integrity, and interests has been the Congress’ way of working for 75 years and counting.” The BJP is hopeful that the issue will help it gain political traction in the Dravidian territory during the Lok Sabha polls, more so as it involves neighbouring Sri Lanka, whose treatment of its own Tamilian citizens and Tamil Nadu fishermen has long been a charged political issue in the state.