In Chennai, Tamil Nadu’s political spotlight turned to the DMK government when BJP leader K Annamalai slammed Chief Minister MK Stalin for what he called a “political drama” over Katchatheevu island. Annamalai said Stalin was using the island issue to distract voters from the DMK’s handling of the Karur stampede, a deadly crowd crush that left dozens dead and injured earlier this month.
Annamalai pointed out that when the state was still reeling from Karur, Stalin only spoke about the island “for one night.” He said the DMK had allowed Katchatheevu—an island in the Palk Strait—to be given to Sri Lanka without consulting Tamil Nadu’s people. According to Annamalai, the DMK has now tried to reverse course by filing a case in the Supreme Court.
The former Tamil Nadu BJP chief complained that the DMK, led by former CM Karunanidhi, told the Centre to cede the island. “Then,” Annamalai said, “they staged a drama and went to the Supreme Court to fight the Centre.” He called it a “betrayal” by both the Congress and the DMK.
Stalin has defended the DMK’s stance. On October 3 he explained that the Tamil Nadu Assembly passed a resolution to reclaim Katchatheevu and that the resolution was sent to the Union government. “The BJP‑led Centre has refused to ask Sri Lanka to return the island,” he said. He added that even Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s trip to Sri Lanka failed to secure a request for the island’s return.
Annamalai accused the central BJP government of being “bitter” when it comes to Tamil issues. He questioned whether the Centre truly cares about Tamil fishermen’s welfare and asked, “Are we not Indians?” He cited the 1974 boundary agreement between India and Sri Lanka, signed by Indira Gandhi and Sirimavo Bandaranaike, which confirmed the maritime border from the Palk Strait to Adam’s Bridge. The 1976 treaty followed, transferring Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka.
The debate shows how Katchatheevu’s strategic location and the Karur tragedy have become rallying points for Tamil Nadu’s political rivals. While the DMK argues that the island’s return is a state issue, the BJP claims it should be handled by the central government. The Supreme Court case and the Assembly resolution add legal and political weight to the dispute, keeping Tamil Nadu’s voters and the media closely watching the next moves from both sides.
Source: aninews
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